New exclude_docs config: gitignore-like patterns of files to exclude

[oprypin]

These files will not be picked up into the Files collection and as such, also the final built site.

Also adds the ability to un-ignore the files that MkDocs forcibly ignores.

• Closes Hidden files/directories #2139
• Closes Is there a way that I can exclude certain folders to not render on static site #2316
• Closes Files in a directory called templates are ignored #2185
• Closes Disable navigation warning #1888
• Closes Allow readme.md and index.md files  #3110

[pawamoy]

That would be really useful indeed. I wonder if the corresponding nav entry for a given excluded file/page should also be removed when building, because when I write something for my blog I have to comment/uncomment the post in the nav until it's ready.

[pawamoy]

Seems to be working fine, thanks @oprypin 🙂
I'd still love not to have to comment items in the nav while they're being worked on, though this is probably another feature and could be implemented in a plugin.

What's the reason for multiline strings instead of arrays for the config settings?

[pawamoy]

Could you provide arguments for your case?

Hmmm I think my main argument would be that such a feature would allow me to exclude a file and remove the corresponding nav entry automatically, until I'm ready to publish it, and in which case I either move the file around or stop excluding it. In short: exclude it once when you start working on it, re-include it once when you're ready. Without such a feature, I constantly have to comment/uncomment the nav entry in mkdocs.yml, at least if I publish other things while working on the draft. This is annoying but not critical. It's probably possible to write a plugin that does that.

[pawamoy]

Hmm but you could just not add it to the nav until it's ready?

Yeah true, I guess I'm lazy and don't want to type the URL myself instead of clicking 🤔
Your counter argument is a good one, silently doing things will be create confusion.

I remember Jekyll had some first-class support for drafts. I'll check again how it works to see if there's something we can improve in MkDocs 🙂

[pawamoy]

That would be nice yes :)