Never* use git pull

Summary

In this video, the speaker explains the differences between using 'git pull' and 'git pull --rebase' when working with Git. After a conflict arises when two developers are working on the same branch, the speaker demonstrates why 'git pull --rebase' is a better option to avoid unnecessary merge commits and maintain a clean commit history. The video highlights how to handle merge conflicts during a rebase and provides practical tips on using Git aliases to make commands more efficient. The speaker encourages viewers to experiment with Git rebase while assuring them that it’s safe to undo if anything goes wrong.

Takeaways

• 😀 Using `git pull` can result in a merge commit, which can clutter the commit history.
• 😀 Merge commits created by `git pull` make it harder to track specific commits or features.
• 😀 `git pull --rebase` helps maintain a linear commit history by applying your changes after the remote commits.
• 😀 If conflicts occur during a `git pull --rebase`, you can easily undo the rebase with `git rebase --abort`.
• 😀 By using `git pull --rebase`, you avoid creating unnecessary merge commits in the project history.
• 😀 A messy commit history from frequent merge commits makes it difficult to navigate and find important changes.
• 😀 You can always resolve merge conflicts by falling back to a regular `git pull` if `git pull --rebase` doesn't work.
• 😀 `git pull --rebase` is a cleaner alternative to `git pull` and helps maintain a more streamlined project history.
• 😀 In case of a conflict, you can use the `git rebase --abort` command to restore your local repository to its previous state.
• 😀 Setting up a Git alias can save time by shortening frequently used commands like `git pull --rebase`.

Q & A

What happens when two people work on the same branch and push their changes in Git?

When two people work on the same branch and push their changes, if one person pushes first, the second person may encounter a push rejection. This happens because the remote branch is ahead of the local branch, containing commits that the local branch doesn't have yet.

Why is it a problem to use a regular git pull in this scenario?

Using a regular git pull in this situation creates a merge commit. This merge commit combines both your changes and the other person's changes, resulting in a more complicated and less clean commit history.

What does a merge commit do in the context of git pull?

A merge commit is a new commit created by Git when it merges two branches. It serves as a marker that both changes were combined, but it can clutter the commit history, especially if everyone on the team uses git pull frequently.

What is the advantage of using git pull rebase instead of a regular git pull?

Using git pull rebase ensures that your commit is placed on top of the other person's commit, maintaining a linear and cleaner commit history. It avoids the creation of unnecessary merge commits.

How does git pull rebase work under the hood?

Git pull rebase temporarily 'puts aside' your local commit, performs a regular git pull to get the latest changes, and then re-applies your commit on top of the remote changes, maintaining a clean, linear commit history.

What happens if there are merge conflicts during a git pull rebase?

If there are merge conflicts during a git pull rebase, Git will stop and notify you of the conflicts. You can then resolve them manually. If you prefer, you can abort the rebase, which will undo the pull and return your local repository to its previous state.

What command can be used to undo a git pull rebase if something goes wrong?

To undo a git pull rebase, you can use the command 'git rebase --abort'. This will undo the entire rebase operation and restore your local repository to its state before the pull.

What should you do if you encounter a merge conflict while using git pull rebase?

If a merge conflict occurs during a git pull rebase, you can either resolve the conflict manually or abort the rebase and then perform a regular git pull to fix the conflict as usual.

What are the benefits of maintaining a clean commit history using git pull rebase?

A clean commit history makes it easier to navigate the codebase, track down bugs, and find specific commits related to features or bug fixes. It avoids the clutter caused by multiple unnecessary merge commits.

What is the role of 'git PR Alias' mentioned in the video?

'git PR Alias' is a custom alias that simplifies the 'git pull rebase' command, making it quicker to type and use. You can set it up by modifying your global Git configuration.