Git Merge vs Git Rebase vs Git Squash – Understanding the differences.

Git is a powerful version control system that allows developers to collaborate on code and track changes to it over time. One of the key features of Git is the ability to merge, rebase, and squash commits. These commands allow developers to manipulate the commit history of a repository and make it easier to collaborate with others.

Git merge is used to combine multiple branches into a single branch. When you run the command git merge, Git will take the changes from one branch and apply them to another branch. For example, if you are working on a new feature in a branch called “feature-branch” and you want to merge those changes into the “master” branch, you would run the command git merge feature-branch. This will take all the changes that were made in “feature-branch” and apply them to the “master” branch.

Git rebase is similar to git merge, but it works a little differently. Instead of applying changes to another branch, git rebase takes the commits from one branch and applies them to the base of another branch. This can make your commit history look cleaner, as all the commits are grouped together. For example, if you are working on a feature branch and you want to rebase the commits onto the “master” branch, you would run the command git rebase master. This will take all the commits from your feature branch and apply them to the “master” branch.

Git squash is a command that allows you to combine multiple commits into a single commit. This can be useful when you want to clean up a messy commit history or when you want to make a single, atomic change. For example, if you have made several commits on a feature branch and you want to squash them into a single commit, you would run the command git squash. This will combine all the commits into a single commit with a new commit message.

When to use git merge, git rebase, and git squash depends on your specific use case.

Git merge is best used when you want to combine changes from multiple branches into a single branch. It’s a simple way to merge changes without altering the commit history.

Git rebase is best used when you want to clean up a messy commit history or when you want to make a single, atomic change. It’s a good option when you want to keep your commit history clean and easy to understand.

Git squash is best used when you want to combine multiple commits into a single commit. This is a good option when you want to make a single, atomic change or when you want to clean up a messy commit history.

It is important to note that git merge and git rebase should be used with care, particularly when working on a shared repository with other people. If you use git merge or git rebase, it can cause conflicts and make it difficult for other people to work on the repository.

It is also important to note that when you squash commits, you lose the commit message, so it is best not to use git squash when working on a shared repository with other people.

In conclusion, git merge, git rebase, and git squash are powerful commands that can help you manage your code and collaborate with others. However, it is important to understand the difference between these commands and when to use them in order to avoid conflicts and other issues. In summary, git merge is best when combining multiple branches, git rebase is best when cleaning up commit history and git squash is best when combining multiple commits into a single commit

Git cherry-pick command – How and Why to Use It

Git CherryPick is a powerful command that allows developers to select specific commits from one branch and apply them to another branch. This can be useful in situations where you want to merge specific changes from one branch into another, without merging the entire branch.

To use Git CherryPick, you first need to switch to the branch where you want to apply the changes using the command “git checkout [branch name]”. Then, you can use the command “git cherry-pick [commit hash]” to apply the changes from the specified commit.

It is important to note that when you use Git CherryPick, it applies the changes as a new commit on the current branch, rather than merging the entire branch. This means that the commit history of the original branch is not preserved in the new branch.

One of the main use cases for Git CherryPick is when you have made changes on a feature branch that you want to merge into your main development branch, but you only want to include certain commits. This can be useful in situations where you have made multiple commits on a feature branch, but not all of them are ready to be merged into the main branch.

Another use case for Git CherryPick is when you have made changes to a branch that are dependent on other changes that have not yet been merged into the main branch. In this case, you can use Git CherryPick to apply the dependent changes to the main branch, while the other changes are still being reviewed.

On the other hand, Git CherryPick should not be used in situations where you want to merge an entire branch into another branch. In this case, it is better to use the “git merge” command, which will preserve the commit history of the original branch.

Additionally, you should be careful when using Git CherryPick in situations where the commits you are picking depend on other commits that have not been picked yet. In this case, you may end up with conflicts or errors in your code. It is recommended to use Git CherryPick with caution and to thoroughly test the changes before merging them into the main branch.

In conclusion, Git CherryPick is a powerful command that allows developers to select specific commits from one branch and apply them to another branch. It can be useful in situations where you want to merge specific changes from one branch into another, without merging the entire branch. However, it should be used with caution and not in situations where you want to merge an entire branch or commits that depend on other commits.