How to git a folder outside the repository?

Question

I have a git repository sitting as ~/a.

At the same time, I have some stuff from ~/b/content/data/, which will be updated by another application.

For backup purposes, I would like to add ~/b/content/data/'s stuff into git ~/a, without moving the folder. And also, of course, without manual copy.

Can I do that? Is it via ln?

Answer 1

Adding symlinked directories worked until git 1.6.1. Now you have other options.

• You can make hardlinks for the individual files you want to store, if you know them or they are only few.
• You can put the actual data into the repository and make ~/b/content/data/ a symlink.
• You can use sudo mount --bind SOURCEDIRECTORY TARGETDIRECTORY instead of a link.