GITHUB DESKTOP REBASE SERIES

# x, exec = run command (the rest of the line) using shell

# f, fixup = like 'squash', but discard this commit's log message # s, squash = use commit, but meld into previous commit # e, edit = use commit, but stop for amending # r, reword = use commit, but edit the commit message The message for each commit is included for clarity.Īn example interactive Rebase script looks like: It is a text-file that contains each commit id and what should be done with it. The script is simply an ordered set of commands to execute. The interactive version allows for this script to be edited before it is executed. The non-interactive version of Rebase produces this script then executes it immediately. Rebase will create a ‘script’ (sort of like a todo list) of which commits will be affected. So we’ve described Rebase as a tool that can provide a new ancestor to a set of commits. They both do the same thing, but the interactive edition allows for manipulation of the process. Rebase can be used in one of two different modes, interactive and non-interactive. If you only have the previous commit id: git reset -hard Įach of the commands described above will reset your current branch back to where you were before you started the Rebase activity. If your branch was pushed before-hand and you want to reset to what the branch looks like remotely: git reset -hard origin/ If Rebase fails part way through and you want to cancel/abort and go back to where you were before, you can execute: git rebase -abort It just adds another level of safety in case you need it.īefore using Rebase, take note of where you were - what the commit id is, or the branch name if it hasn’t changed from remote. I’d suggest always pushing your branch to remote before using Rebase, especially if you’re less familiar with it. As Rebase creates new commits, the branch can be reset back to the old commit and you’re back where you were before. A bit like having two Marty’s in the same timeline - confusing!Īs with Back to the Future, there is always a way out of any problem that may surface. Moreover the history will show the commit twice, albeit with different ids. Git will see that the commit exists twice - the first version and the Rebased version - and potentially get confused when you try to merge the changes together. This means you’d ‘pull the rug from under the feet’ of anyone using the ‘old’ commit. As such a new commit will be created for every step of the process. Remember that Rebase has to follow the rules of a commit - that it is immutable.

Never Rebase a public branch - one that other people are using.When using Rebase there are certain rules that you need to adhere to - otherwise a world of pain can ensue. Rebase is a bit like the Grays Sports Almanac: it can change everything! As such Rebase will re-create each commit, chaining them all together but with the new ancestor. It’s also important to remember that each commit in Git is immutable, even to Rebase. As such Rebase is effectively updating the parent commit for the set of commits you provide. ‘base’ is used in the documentation to allow the base to mean a branch, a commit, a tag, or anything else that can be referenced within git.Īs discussed before, a commit contains - amongst other things - the id of its parent commit(s). Give a new ancestor to a commit or sequence of commits. If you replace the word ‘base’ with ‘ancestor’ it means the same thing, so in other words: Git-rebase - Reapply commits on top of another base tip

GITHUB DESKTOP REBASE SERIES

Combine a series of commits into one commit.

Remove a commit from the history of a change set (or branch).

Add a commit into the history of a change set (or branch).

Remember, even though you can use Rebase for the following (and maybe more) cases, it remains best practice to commit early and often: Prior knowledge of the fundamental concepts of source control is crucial to understanding this post. Rebase is the tool that can make the single biggest impact to achieving this. I’ve talked before about how the history of a codebase is as important as the codebase itself.

Github desktop rebase