# Git Move

> Move/rename or delete a file or directory while preserving git tracking. Uses `git mv` / `git rm` when the path is tracked, else plain `mv` / `rm`. Use this instead of bare mv/rm whenever relocating, renaming, or removing files/dirs that may be under git — e.g. moving kanban cards between stage dirs, renaming source files, deleting tracked docs.

- Skill: `xakki/git-move` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add xakki/git-move`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/xakki/git-move/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: Xakki (https://skillmd.com/u/xakki)
- Updated: 2026-09-21
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/xakki/git-move

---


# git-move — file ops that respect git

When moving, renaming, or deleting a file/directory that **might be tracked by
git**, never use bare `mv` / `rm` — that drops git's rename/delete tracking and
leaves the index inconsistent. Use the helper:

```bash
ROOT="${AI_AGENTS_SKILLS_ROOT:-${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT:-${PLUGIN_ROOT:-${CURSOR_PLUGIN_ROOT:-}}}}"
"$ROOT"/skills/git-move/git-move.sh <src> <dst>        # move / rename
"$ROOT"/skills/git-move/git-move.sh --rm <path> [path…] # delete
```

Behaviour:
- Tracked path inside a work tree → `git mv` / `git rm` (history + index stay clean).
- Untracked path, or not in a git repo → plain `mv` / `rm -rf` (fallback).
- Destination parent dirs are created automatically (`mkdir -p`).
- **Staging only — it never commits.** You commit separately when asked,
  following the [git-flow](../git-flow/SKILL.md) core.

Examples:

```bash
"$ROOT"/skills/git-move/git-move.sh .claude/kanban/grooming/foo.md .claude/kanban/todo/foo.md
"$ROOT"/skills/git-move/git-move.sh --rm .claude/kanban/todo/old.md .claude/kanban/todo/dup.md
```