Re: Only track built files for final output?

[Leam Hall <leamhall@gmail.com>]

On 8/20/19 1:46 PM, Pratyush Yadav wrote:
> On 20/08/19 08:21AM, Leam Hall wrote:
>> Hey all, a newbie could use some help.
>>
>> We have some code that generates data files, and as a part of our build
>> process those files are rebuilt to ensure things work. This causes an issue
>> with branches and merging, as the data files change slightly and dealing
>> with half a dozen merge conflicts, for files that are in an interim state,
>> is frustrating. The catch is that when the code goes to the production
>> state, those files must be in place and current.
>>
>> We use a release branch, and then fork off that for each issue. Testing, and
>> file creation, is a part of the pre-merge process. This is what causes the
>> merge conflicts.
>>
>> Right now my thought is to put the "final" versions of the files in some
>> other directory, and put the interim file storage directory in .gitignore.
>> Is there a better way to do this?
>>
> 
> My philosophy with Git is to only track files that I need to generate
> the final product. I never track the generated files, because I can
> always get to them via the tracked "source" files.
> 
> So for example, I was working on a simple parser in Flex and Bison. Flex
> and Bison take source files in their syntax, and generate a C file each
> that is then compiled and linked to get to the final binary. So instead
> of tracking the generated C files, I only tracked the source Flex and
> Bison files. My build system can always get me the generated files.
> 
> So in your case, what's wrong with just tracking the source files needed
> to generate the other files, and then when you want a release binary,
> just clone the repo, run your build system, and get the generated files?
> What benefit do you get by tracking the generated files?

For internal use I agree with you. However, there's an issue.

The generated files are used by another program's build system, and I 
can't guarantee the other build system's build system is built like 
ours. It seems easier to provide them the generated files and decouple 
their build system layout from ours.