😅
Why don't developers ever break up with Git?
Because even when things go wrong, they know they can always do a git reset --soft
and start over without losing any changes!
"Unlock the power of Git in your development workflow by mastering the git reset --soft
command! As developers, we often encounter situations where we need to revise our code history without losing valuable changes. That's where git reset --soft
comes in, acting like a time machine for your code, allowing you to rewind your commits while preserving your work. This command is a lifesaver when you need to alter your Git history, offering you a safety net when you need to correct or amend your commits. Dive in to discover the ins and outs of this powerful command, and learn how to seamlessly undo commits without losing a single change.
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What Is Git Reset Soft
Git reset--soft is a command used to undo commits in Git while retaining the changes in your working directory and staging area.
Git reset --soft
is a specific Git command that is part of the broader git reset
family of commands. This set of commands is used to move or manipulate the HEAD
pointer in your Git repository. The HEAD
pointer in Git is a reference to the last commit in the currently checked-out branch.
When you execute a git reset
command, you essentially tell Git to move the HEAD
pointer to another commit. The option you use with git reset
(--soft
, --mixed
, --hard
) tells Git what to do with the changes that happened in the commits that are no longer under HEAD
.
When you use git reset --soft
, you are instructing Git to move the HEAD
pointer, but to leave your staging area (also known as the index) and working directory as they were.
This means that the changes from the commits that were undone will still be present in your working directory, and they will also still be staged (i.e., ready to be committed). This is in contrast to --mixed
and --hard
options, which unstage or discard changes respectively.
The git reset --soft
command is incredibly handy when you want to undo one or more commits but keep all the work you did. You might do this if you committed changes prematurely, or if you just want to edit the commit message, or if you want to squash several commits into one.
Let's illustrate with an example. If you've committed changes with the message "Initial commit" and then realize you want to change the commit message to something more descriptive, you could run:
$ git reset --soft HEAD~1
This would undo the last commit, but keep your changes in the staging area. You can then re-commit with a new message:
$ git commit -m "Detailed and descriptive commit message"
And voila! You have effectively changed your commit message without losing any work.
💡
Git reset --soft is a powerful command that allows you to manipulate your Git history while preserving your changes, providing flexibility and control over your development workflow.
How To Use Git Reset Soft
git reset --soft HEAD~1 undoes your last commit🕶 pic.twitter.com/p3I27FKn8A
— Cemal Okten (@cemalokten) July 22, 2021
Using git reset --soft
is a straightforward process. The basic syntax for the command is:
$ git reset --soft <commit>
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how to use git reset --soft
:
1. Identify the commit: Determine the commit to which you want to move the HEAD
pointer. You can reference the commit using its commit hash, branch name, or relative commit reference.
2. Run the command: Open your terminal or Git Bash and navigate to the root directory of your Git repository. Execute the following command, replacing <commit>
with the appropriate commit reference:
$ git reset --soft <commit>
3. Verify the results: After running the command, Git will move the HEAD
pointer to the specified commit. However, your staging area and working directory will remain unchanged. To confirm the changes, you can use the git status
command, which will display the current status of your repository.
$ git status
4. Review and modify changes: With the HEAD
pointer moved, you can now review the changes made in the commit that was undone. The changes will still be present in your working directory and staged, allowing you to make any necessary modifications.
5. Commit the changes: Once you're satisfied with the modifications, you can create a new commit to include the changes. Use the git commit
command as you normally would, specifying an appropriate commit message.
$ git commit -m "New commit message"
That's it! You've successfully used git reset --soft
to undo a commit while preserving your changes. By mastering the usage of git reset --soft
, you gain greater control over your Git workflow, allowing you to refine and shape your commit history to meet your project's requirements.
❗
Remember, when using git reset --soft
, exercise caution as it alters your Git history. It's always a good practice to make backups or create a branch before performing any Git operations that modify your repository's commit history.
Examples Of Git Reset Soft
Let's explore a few examples to illustrate the usage of git reset --soft
and its practical applications.
Example 1: Undoing The Last Commit
One common scenario is realizing that the most recent commit contains some mistakes or incomplete changes. To undo the last commit while preserving your changes, you can use git reset --soft HEAD~1
.
$ git reset --soft HEAD~1
This command moves the HEAD
pointer to the commit before the current HEAD
, effectively "uncommitting" the last commit. Your changes will remain in your working directory and staged, allowing you to make further modifications before creating a new commit.
Example 2: Combining Multiple Commits
Suppose you've made several consecutive commits and later realize that they should have been a single cohesive commit. You can use git reset --soft
to undo the commits and then combine the changes into a new commit.
$ git reset --soft HEAD~3
In this example, HEAD~3
references three commits back from the current HEAD
. Running the command moves the HEAD
pointer to the desired commit while keeping the changes from those three commits staged. Now you can modify and refine the changes before creating a new commit that encapsulates all the desired changes.
Example 3: Adjusting Commit Messages
Sometimes, you may want to modify the commit message of a recent commit. Instead of creating a new commit just to update the message, you can leverage git reset --soft
.
$ git reset --soft HEAD
Running this command on the commit you want to adjust will move the HEAD
pointer to the same commit, effectively undoing it. However, since we use --soft
, the changes remain in the staging area. Now you can use git commit --amend
to modify the commit message.
$ git commit --amend -m "New and improved commit message"
This command will modify the commit with the new message, without creating an additional commit.
These examples demonstrate the flexibility and power of git reset --soft
. It allows you to undo commits while keeping your changes intact, enabling you to refine your commit history and make necessary adjustments to your project. Remember to exercise caution and use this command purposefully, as it can have a significant impact on your Git history.
Advanced Use Cases Of Git Reset Soft
Let's explore some advanced use cases of git reset --soft
that go beyond basic commit undoing.
1. Squashing Commits
One powerful application of git reset --soft
is squashing multiple commits into a single, cohesive commit. Suppose you have a series of small, incremental commits that you want to combine into a single meaningful commit. You can achieve this by using git reset --soft
and then creating a new commit.
$ git reset --soft HEAD~3
In this example, HEAD~3
refers to the commit three steps back from the current HEAD
. By running this command, you move the HEAD
pointer to the desired commit, while keeping the changes from those three commits staged. Now, make any necessary modifications or adjustments to your changes, and then create a new commit that encapsulates all the desired changes.
$ git commit -m "Combined three commits into one"
This technique helps maintain a clean and concise commit history, providing a clearer picture of the development process.
2. Reorganizing Commits
Another advanced use case of git reset --soft
involves reorganizing commits in your Git history. Let's say you want to move a commit that is further back in your commit history to be the most recent commit. You can achieve this by resetting the HEAD
pointer and then creating a new commit.
$ git reset --soft <commit-hash>
Replace <commit-hash>
with the hash of the desired commit. This command moves the HEAD
pointer to the specified commit, keeping the changes staged.
Afterward, you can make any necessary modifications or adjustments to the changes and create a new commit.
$ git commit -m "Reorganized commit"
This approach can be helpful when you want to reorder commits for better readability or to group related changes together.
3. Undoing And Splitting Commits
In certain scenarios, you may want to undo a commit but preserve some parts of the changes made in that commit. git reset --soft
can help accomplish this task.
$ git reset --soft HEAD~1
By running this command, you move the HEAD
pointer back one commit, while keeping the changes staged. You can now selectively unstage some of the changes and create a new commit.
$ git restore --staged <file1> <file2> # Unstage specific files$ git commit -m "Split changes into multiple commits"
This technique allows you to fine-tune your commit history by separating related changes into distinct commits.
These advanced use cases of git reset --soft
demonstrate the command's versatility in managing and organizing your Git history.
Git reset --soft is like having a magic undo button for your commits, allowing you to rewind the clock while keeping your changes staged and ready for a fresh start.
Linus Torvalds
Software engineer
Git
Common Errors With Git Reset Soft
1. Accidental --hard
Reset. One common mistake is accidentally using git reset --hard
instead of git reset --soft
. The --hard
option not only moves the HEAD
pointer but also discards all changes in your working directory and staging area. This can lead to irreversible data loss. Always double-check your command before executing it to ensure you're using the correct option.
2. Forgetting to Commit Changes After using git reset --soft
, it's crucial to remember to create a new commit with the desired changes. Since git reset --soft
only moves the HEAD
pointer and keeps the changes staged, you need to explicitly create a new commit to incorporate those changes into your Git history.
3. Incorrect Commit Reference Providing an incorrect commit reference as an argument to git reset --soft
can lead to unintended consequences. Make sure you accurately identify the commit you want to move the HEAD
pointer to. You can use commit hashes, branch names, or relative commit references like HEAD~1
or HEAD^
to specify the desired commit.
4. Ignoring Uncommitted Changes git reset --soft
works with commits, so it does not affect uncommitted changes in your working directory. If you have made changes that you want to discard entirely, you can use the git checkout
command with the appropriate options or the git restore
command to reset specific files or directories.
5. Modifying Shared Branches If you're working with a shared branch that others also have access to, exercise caution when using git reset --soft
. Altering the commit history of a shared branch can lead to conflicts and confusion among team members. It's generally recommended to avoid modifying shared branches unless you have a clear and coordinated plan with the rest of the team.
Being aware of these common errors and pitfalls will help you use git reset --soft
effectively and avoid unintended consequences. Always double-check your commands, be mindful of the changes you want to preserve or discard, and ensure clear communication with your team when manipulating shared branches. With care and attention, git reset --soft
can be a valuable tool in managing your Git history and maintaining a clean and organized codebase.
Comparison Table
Command | Moves HEAD Pointer | Changes Staging Area | Changes Working Directory |
---|---|---|---|
git reset --soft | Yes | No | No |
git reset --mixed | Yes | Yes | No |
git reset --hard | Yes | Yes | Yes |
git reset --soft
: This command moves theHEAD
pointer to the specified commit while keeping the changes staged. It does not modify the staging area or the working directory. It allows you to undo commits while preserving the changes made in those commits.git reset --mixed
: This command moves theHEAD
pointer to the specified commit and also updates the staging area to match the state of the commit. However, it does not modify the working directory. The changes from the undone commits are unstaged, and you can modify them before creating a new commit.git reset --hard
: This command moves theHEAD
pointer to the specified commit, resets the staging area to match the commit, and also discards all changes in the working directory. It effectively removes any changes made in the undone commits and reverts the working directory to the state of the specified commit.
When choosing the appropriate option, consider the impact you want to have on the staging area and working directory. If you want to preserve your changes and have them ready to be committed again, git reset --soft
is the right choice. If you want to unstage the changes and modify them before committing, git reset --mixed
is suitable. And if you want to discard the changes entirely and revert to a previous commit, git reset --hard
is the option to go for.
It's important to exercise caution with git reset --mixed
and git reset --hard
as they can lead to irreversible data loss if used carelessly. Always ensure you have backups or branches before performing operations that modify your commit history.
Happy coding!🙌
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of using git reset --soft
?
The purpose of git reset --soft
is to undo commits while preserving the changes made in those commits. It allows you to move the HEAD
pointer to a previous commit, effectively "uncommitting" the changes, but keeping them staged and ready for modification or recommitting.
Does git reset --soft
delete my changes?
No, git reset --soft
does not delete your changes. It moves the HEAD
pointer and adjusts the staging area, but your changes remain in your working directory and are still staged. You can continue working on them or modify them as needed.
Can I undo multiple commits with git reset --soft
?
Yes, you can undo multiple commits by specifying the appropriate commit reference. For example, git reset --soft HEAD~3
will undo the last three commits while keeping the changes staged.
How do I commit the changes after using git reset --soft
?
To commit the changes after using git reset --soft
, you can use the regular git commit
command. After making any necessary modifications, stage the changes with git add
, and then create a new commit using git commit -m "Commit message"
.
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FAQs
How do I remove a commit without losing changes? ›
Removing the last commit
If you want to "uncommit" the commits, but keep the changes around for reworking, remove the "--hard": git reset HEAD^ which will evict the commits from the branch and from the index, but leave the working tree around.
Git Reset A Specific File
The changes it contains will still be present in the working directory. The --soft , --mixed , and --hard flags do not have any effect on the file-level version of git reset , as the staged snapshot is always updated, and the working directory is never updated.
To unstage commits on Git, use the “git reset” command with the “–soft” option and specify the commit hash. Alternatively, if you want to unstage your last commit, you can the “HEAD” notation in order to revert it easily. Using the “–soft” argument, changes are kept in your working directory and index.
What does git soft reset do? ›A soft reset will only reset the Commit History. By default, git reset is invoked with HEAD as the target commit. Since our Commit History was already sitting on HEAD and we implicitly reset to HEAD nothing really happened. To better understand and utilize --soft we need a target commit that is not HEAD .
What is the difference between git revert and reset? ›While git reset does this by moving the current head of the branch back to the specified commit, thereby changing the commit history, git revert does this by creating a new commit that undoes the changes in the specified commit and so does not change the history.
How do I Unstage all committed changes? ›To unstage commits on Git, use the “git reset” command with the “–soft” option and specify the commit hash. Alternatively, if you want to unstage your last commit, you can the “HEAD” notation in order to revert it easily. Using the “–soft” argument, changes are kept in your working directory and index.
How do you reset a soft commit? ›The easiest way to undo the last Git commit is to execute the “git reset” command with the “–soft” option that will preserve changes done to your files. You have to specify the commit to undo which is “HEAD~1” in this case. The last commit will be removed from your Git history.
What is git reset vs soft reset vs hard reset? ›Git reset hard undoes changes and removes the associated files from the working directory, staging area, and commit history. Git reset soft undoes the changes to the index. Git reset mixed untracks files without deleting them from the working area.
What is the difference between git reset soft and rebase? ›They are completely different. git-reset works with refs, on your working directory and the index, without touching any commit objects (or other objects). git-rebase on the other hand is used to rewrite previously made commit objects. So if you want to rewrite the history, git-rebase is what you want.
How do I Unstage a file in git without losing changes? ›- The cached command. bash. git rm --cached <file> helps to unstage new files, i.e., files not committed.
- The restore command. bash. git restore --staged <file> ...
- Git reset mixed. You can use the reset command in four ways when unstaging a file. Use either.
How do I clean up all changes in git? ›
There are two Git commands a developer must use in order to discard all local changes in Git, remove all uncommited changes and revert their Git working tree back to the state it was in when the last commit took place. The commands to discard all local changes in Git are: git reset –hard. git clean -fxd.
How to reinitialize a git? ›- Save the state of your current branch in another branch, named my-backup ,in case something goes wrong: git commit -a -m "Backup." git branch my-backup.
- Fetch the remote branch and set your branch to match it: git fetch origin. git reset --hard origin/master.
In summary: --soft option will move everything (except unstaged files) into staging area. --mixed option will move everything into unstaged area.
What is the difference between git reset soft and mixed? ›The “git reset –soft” command keeps the files and returns the commit changes to the Git staging area. In contrast, the “git reset –mixed” command undo the commit changes and remove the file from the staging index without deleting it from the working directory.
Does git reset remove commits? ›We saw earlier how reset just wipes off data in your Git's state, and these commits are completely removed from the Commit History. The revert command, on the other hand, pushes an additional commit in the Commit History after its execution. You can safely undo your local changes using the reset command.
When should I use git reset? ›reset is the command we use when we want to move the repository back to a previous commit , discarding any changes made after that commit . After the previous chapter, we have a part in our commit history we could go back to.
Does git reset hard remove files? ›git reset --hard is a classic command in this situation - but it will only discard changes in tracked files (i.e. files that already are under version control). To get rid of new / untracked files, you'll have to use git clean !
Does git reset affect local changes? ›Running git reset --hard ORIG_HEAD will let you go back to where you were, but it will discard your local changes, which you do not want. git reset --merge keeps your local changes.
How to reset all uncommitted changes in git? ›To discard all uncommitted changes, simply run the following command: git checkout -- . This command will revert your working directory to the state of the last commit, effectively discarding all uncommitted changes.
How do I remove last committed changes in git? ›To remove the last commit from git, you can simply run git reset --hard HEAD^ If you are removing multiple commits from the top, you can run git reset --hard HEAD~2 to remove the last two commits.
Do unstaged changes get committed? ›
Unstage Commits Hard
The staging index is reset to match the specified commit. Working Directory is reset to match specified commit. Any pending changes in the Working Directory and Staging Index are lost.
To undo changes associated with a specific commit, developers should use the git revert command. To undo every change that has happened since a given commit occurred, use git reset.
How do I reset a committed file in git? ›How To Reset a File or Commit Using the git reset Command. The image above shows all the commit history — from the first commit to the reverted commit in the last section. If we use git reset [commit ID] to revert back to a particular commit, every other commit after that will be removed from the commit history.
Which is better soft reset or hard reset? ›A soft reset is the restarting or rebooting of a device like a computer, smartphone or tablet. It closes all applications and clears any data in random access memory. This is different from a hard reset, which could potentially cause loss of settings, saved applications and user data.
What is the difference between wipe and reset? ›Factory reset (also known as wipe) is used to wipe all data and settings from the device, returning it to the default factory settings. Autopilot reset is used to return the device to a fully configured or known IT-approved state.
How do I revert multiple commits in git? ›In summary, reverting multiple commits in Git is straightforward with the `git revert` command. You can specify a range of commits or individual commit hashes to undo changes introduced by multiple commits.
How do I untrack a file in git but not delete it? ›Using the git rm –cached Command
We've mentioned that git rm FILE will remove files from the index and local working tree by default. However, the git rm command provides the –cached option to allow us only to remove files from the repository's index and keep the local file untouched.
Adding files to the Staging Area like this is often called "staging files for the next commit." In this short article, we'll discuss how to do the opposite: how to unstage a file in Git, i.e. removing it from the Staging Area to prevent it from being included in the next commit.
What does it mean to Unstage a file in git? ›To instruct Git to disregard changes to a file, and not include it in your next commit, unstage the file. To remove files from stage use reset HEAD , where HEAD is the last commit of the current branch. This unstages the file but maintains the modifications.
How do I clean commits from memory? ›- understand rebase and replace pulling remote changes with rebase to remove merge commits on your working branch.
- use fast-forward or squash merging option when adding your changes to the target branch.
- use atomic commits — learn how to amend, squash or restructure your commits.
How do I clean up local git? ›
- Open a Git BASH window or Command Window in the root of your Git repository.
- If necessary, use the git switch or checkout command to move off the branch you wish to delete.
- Issue the git branch --delete <branchname> ...
- Run the git branch -a command to verify the local Git branch is deleted.
To remove all untracked files, whether they are ignored or not, use the command git clean -f -x instead. The -x option removes all untracked files, including ignored files.
How to reset last 3 commits in git? ›If the commits you want to remove are placed at the top of your commit history, use the git reset --hard command with the HEAD object and the number of commits you want to remove. This command will remove the latest commit. This command will remove the latest three commits.
Does reset hard remove commits? ›Be aware that the git reset –hard HEAD or git reset –hard HEAD@{n} command would remove your uncommitted changes, even if you staged them. If you don't want your unstaged changes to be removed, you can use the --soft flag instead of the --hard flag.
How do you undo a commit that has been pushed? ›- Go to the Git history.
- Right click on the commit you want to revert.
- Select revert commit.
- Make sure commit the changes is checked.
- Click revert.
To undo changes associated with a specific commit, developers should use the git revert command. To undo every change that has happened since a given commit occurred, use git reset.
How do you remove something from a commit? ›- remove the file git rm <file>
- commit with amend flag: git commit --amend.
Deleting the "Middle" Commit from the History.
All you need to do is typing "drop" at the beginning of each commit you want to delete. Be careful while using the git rebase command, as it may cause sudden problems. So, it is more recommended to use the git revert command.
Once a commit is pushed, you do NOT want to use git reset to undo it - because reset will rewrite the history tree, and anyone who has already pulled that branch will have a bad tree.
How do I rewrite last pushed commit? ›Changing the latest Git commit message
If the message to be changed is for the latest commit to the repository, then the following commands are to be executed: git commit --amend -m "New message" git push --force repository-name branch-name.
Can I amend a commit that has been pushed? ›
After you push a commit, the option to amend it is disabled in GitHub Desktop. When you amend a commit, you replace the previous commit with a new commit to your current branch. Amending a commit that has been pushed to the remote repository could cause confusion for other collaborators working with the repository.
Does reverting a commit delete changes? ›The git revert command is a forward-moving undo operation that offers a safe method of undoing changes. Instead of deleting or orphaning commits in the commit history, a revert will create a new commit that inverses the changes specified.
Can you undo a git reset? ›We saw earlier how reset just wipes off data in your Git's state, and these commits are completely removed from the Commit History. The revert command, on the other hand, pushes an additional commit in the Commit History after its execution. You can safely undo your local changes using the reset command.
Can we revert a merge commit? ›How to Undo a Merge Commit in Git. You can use the Git reset command to undo a merge. Firstly, you need to check for the commit hash (or id) so you can use it to go back to the previous commit. To check for the hash, run git log or git reflog .