How do I list all folder names that have files changed in Git?

Question

git diff --name-only or git diff --name-status will list all files that have been changed, however there is no command to list all folder names that contain files changed.

For example, with this directory tree:

test/
|
|__B/
|
|____b1.txt
|
|__C/
|
|____c1.txt

If b1.txt and c1.txt have changed, I'd like to get B and C as the output.

Answer 1

Here's a way:

git diff --name-only | xargs -L1 dirname | uniq

---

Explanation

• git diff --name-only: list all changed files
• xargs -L1 dirname: remove filenames to keep only directories
• uniq: remove duplicates

You can create an alias so you don't have to type the whole command each time you need it:

alias git-diff-folders="git diff --name-only | xargs -L1 dirname | uniq"

Answer 2

This command would give results of top level directories. git status | cut -d'/' -f1

For a more in depth solution I am currently working with ${PWD##*/} in bash to find a more correct solution to your problem.

Trying to write a solution for you in git that is simular to this npm solution:

get the path where npm gulp called from

im no longer searching for the answer on this one,

git diff --name-only | xargs -L1 dirname | uniq

was the correct answer provided by Pᴇʜ

it works on my mac computer after his edit's