File Deletion Rules

Rule (CRITICAL)

Skip if already deleted: If the target file does not exist in the working tree, do nothing. This rule applies only to files that currently exist.

NEVER use rm or unlink commands directly.

ALWAYS use git stash before deleting files to preserve them.

Apply without confirmation: When file deletion is needed, follow this rule without asking the user for confirmation. Execute the deletion process defined below.

Prohibited Commands

The following commands are strictly prohibited:

• rm (any variant: rm -rf , rm -f , etc.)

• unlink

• Any direct file deletion without git stash

Deletion Process

For Modified Files (Tracked & Modified)

Save changes to git stash:

git stash push -m "[Deletion] <reason>" -- <files>

Remove file from git:

git rm <files>

For New Files (Untracked)

Stage the file:

git add <files>

Save to stash (file is automatically removed from working tree):

git stash push -m "[Deletion] <reason>" -- <files>

Stash Message Template

Use this format for stash messages:

[Deletion] <reason> Files: <file1>, <file2>, ...

Examples

Single file

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Remove deprecated API endpoints Files: api/old-endpoint.js" -- api/old-endpoint.js

Multiple files

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Clean up unused test fixtures Files: test/fixtures/old.js, test/fixtures/deprecated.js" -- test/fixtures/old.js test/fixtures/deprecated.js

Directory

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Remove legacy components Files: src/components/legacy/" -- src/components/legacy/

Complete Examples

Good: Deleting Modified File

Step 1: Save to stash

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Remove unused utility function Files: utils/old-helper.js" -- utils/old-helper.js

Step 2: Remove from git

git rm utils/old-helper.js

Good: Deleting Untracked File

Step 1: Stage file

git add temp-file.js

Step 2: Save to stash (removes from working tree)

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Remove temporary file Files: temp-file.js" -- temp-file.js

Good: Deleting Multiple Files

Save all files to stash

git stash push -m "[Deletion] Clean up deprecated modules Files: module1.js, module2.js, module3.js" -- module1.js module2.js module3.js

Remove from git

git rm module1.js module2.js module3.js

Bad: Direct Deletion

DO NOT USE

rm file.js rm -rf directory/ unlink file.js

Notes

• Files saved to git stash can be recovered later if needed

• Use descriptive reasons in stash messages for future reference

• The stash preserves file contents even after deletion

• List all files in the stash message for clarity

Related Skills

• git-operations-rules - General git operation rules (unstage, undo, stash)