git-staged

name	git-staged
description	Commit specific files without disturbing the existing git index. Use when the user wants to commit only certain files while preserving other already-staged changes, or when managing complex staging scenarios where the index must be carefully maintained across commits.

git-staged

Commit specific files without disturbing already-staged changes in the git index.

Quick start

# 1. Save currently staged files
git diff --cached --name-only > /tmp/.git_staged_save

# 2. Clear the index (working tree untouched)
git reset HEAD

# 3. Stage and commit only the target files
git add <target-files>
git commit -m "your message"

# 4. Restore the previously staged files
xargs git add < /tmp/.git_staged_save

Workflows

Commit specific files, preserve existing index

1. Record currently staged files

   git diff --cached --name-only > /tmp/.git_staged_save
   

2. Clear the index

   git reset HEAD
   

   Working tree is untouched — only the index is cleared.

3. Stage and commit target files

   git add <file1> <file2>
   git commit -m "message"
   

4. Restore previously staged files

   xargs git add < /tmp/.git_staged_save
   

   Files that were just committed will be re-staged with no net change if unmodified.

Use git stash when hunks are involved

When staged changes include partial hunks (git add -p), the file-list approach loses hunk precision. Use stash instead:

1. git stash push --staged -m "save-index"
   

2. git add <target-files>
   git commit -m "message"
   

3. git stash pop
   

   Resolve conflicts if committed files overlap with stashed changes.

Scenario guide

Situation	Approach
Staged files have no working-tree changes	Save/restore file list (Quick start)
Staged changes include partial hunks	git stash push --staged
Splitting one large staged change into multiple commits	Repeat stash workflow per commit

Notes

• git reset HEAD never modifies the working tree — always safe.
• If a previously-staged file has working-tree modifications, re-adding it will stage its current state — verify with git diff --cached before the next commit.
• Clean up the temp file when done: rm /tmp/.git_staged_save