How to fix fatal: pathspec 'file.txt' did not match any files in Git

# List files in the current directory
ls -la

# Search for files with a similar name
ls -la | grep -i "file"

# Or use find to search recursively
find . -name "*file*" -type f

# On Linux/macOS, filenames are case-sensitive
ls -la File.txt   # Different from file.txt
ls -la FILE.TXT   # Different from file.txt

# Show all tracked and untracked files
git status

# Show only tracked files that have changes
git status --short

# List all files Git is tracking
git ls-files

# Add a new file to Git tracking
git add file.txt

# Force-add an ignored file
git add -f file.txt

# Or check if file is ignored
git check-ignore -v file.txt

# Without separator (might fail)
git reset file.txt

# With separator (more reliable)
git reset -- file.txt

# Or explicitly specify HEAD
git reset HEAD -- file.txt

# Unstage a file (recommended modern approach)
git restore --staged file.txt

# Wrong - shell splits this into two arguments
git add my file.txt

# Correct - use quotes
git add "my file.txt"

# Or escape spaces
git add my\ file.txt

# Files with brackets, asterisks, etc.
git add "[config].txt"
git add 'file*.txt'

# Use single quotes to prevent shell expansion
git add 'file[1].txt'

# Use forward slashes or escape backslashes
git add src/file.txt
git add "src\\file.txt"

# If you staged a deletion and want to undo it
git reset -- file.txt
git checkout -- file.txt

# Or with modern Git
git restore file.txt

# If the file is deleted from disk but not staged
git add file.txt   # This will stage the deletion

# Or use git rm to remove and stage in one step
git rm file.txt

git rm --cached file.txt

# Use --ignore-unmatch to avoid errors
git rm --ignore-unmatch file.txt

# Check current directory
pwd

# Check repository root
git rev-parse --show-toplevel

# Navigate to repository root
cd $(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)

# From repository root
git add src/components/file.txt

# From subdirectory, use relative path
cd src
git add components/file.txt

# Or use absolute path from repo root with :/
git add :/"src/components/file.txt"

# Find where the file actually is
find . -name "file.txt" -type f 2>/dev/null

git status

Changes to be committed:
  (use "git restore --staged <file>..." to unstage)
        new file:   staged-file.txt    # These are staged
        modified:   changed-file.txt

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
        modified:   unstaged-file.txt  # Modified but not staged

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
        new-file.txt                   # Not tracked by Git yet