Remove files permanently from git

file-removal-from-git.md

Source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2164581/remove-file-from-git-repository-history

This is the shortest way to get rid of the files:

1. (Optional) Check for the largest files

git verify-pack -v .git/objects/pack/#{pack-name}.idx | sort -k 3 -n | tail -5 

2. (Optional) Check what are those files

git rev-list --objects --all | grep <id> 

3. remove a file from all revisions

git filter-branch --index-filter 'git rm --cached --ignore-unmatch <files>'

4. Remove git backup

rm -rf .git/refs/original/ # to remove git's backup

5. Expire loose objects

git reflog expire --all --expire='0 days' # to expire all the loose objects

6. Check for loose objects

git fsck --full --unreachable # to check if there are any loose objects

7. Repack

git repack -A -d # repacking

8. Remove and prune

git prune