Cherry picking a commit with Git allows you to apply a specific commit from one branch to another branch. This can be useful in situations where you want to selectively apply changes from one branch to another, without merging the entire branch. In this guide, we will walk through the steps to cherry pick a commit using Git.
Step 1: Checkout the target branch
Before cherry picking a commit, make sure you are on the branch where you want to apply the commit. You can use the following command to checkout the target branch:
git checkout <target_branch>
For example, if you want to apply the commit to the “master” branch, you would run:
git checkout master
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Step 2: Identify the commit to cherry pick
To cherry pick a commit, you need to know the commit hash or the reference to the commit. You can use the following command to view the commit history and identify the commit you want to cherry pick:
git log
The commit history will be displayed, showing the commit hash, author, date, and commit message. Take note of the commit hash or reference of the commit you want to cherry pick.
Step 3: Cherry pick the commit
Once you have identified the commit you want to cherry pick, you can use the following command to apply the commit to the current branch:
git cherry-pick <commit_hash>
Replace <commit_hash> with the actual commit hash or reference of the commit you want to cherry pick.
For example, if the commit hash is “abc123”, the command would be:
git cherry-pick abc123
Git will apply the changes from the specified commit to the current branch.
Step 4: Resolve conflicts (if any)
In some cases, Git may encounter conflicts while cherry picking a commit. Conflicts occur when the changes in the commit conflict with the changes in the target branch. Git will pause the cherry picking process and prompt you to resolve the conflicts manually.
To resolve conflicts, open the files with conflicts and modify them to resolve the conflicting changes. Once you have resolved the conflicts, save the files and continue the cherry picking process by running:
git cherry-pick --continue
Git will continue applying the remaining commits after resolving the conflicts.
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Step 5: Verify the cherry pick
After cherry picking a commit, it is important to verify that the changes have been applied correctly. You can use the following command to view the commit history and check if the cherry picked commit is included:
git log
The commit history will be displayed, showing the applied cherry picked commit along with its details.
Why is the question asked?
The question of how to cherry pick a commit with Git is commonly asked by developers who want to selectively apply changes from one branch to another. There are several potential reasons why someone might want to cherry pick a commit:
1. Bug fixes: If a bug is fixed in one branch and needs to be applied to another branch, cherry picking allows you to selectively apply the fix without merging the entire branch.
2. Feature development: If a feature or enhancement is implemented in one branch and needs to be applied to another branch, cherry picking can be used to apply only the relevant changes.
3. Backporting: Sometimes, it may be necessary to backport a commit from a newer branch to an older branch. Cherry picking provides a way to selectively apply the commit to the older branch.
Alternative ideas and suggestions
While cherry picking can be a useful feature, it is important to consider the following alternative ideas and suggestions:
1. Merge: Instead of cherry picking a commit, you can merge the entire branch into the target branch. This will bring in all the changes from the branch, including the commit you want to apply. However, merging may not always be desirable if you only need specific changes.
2. Rebase: Another alternative is to use Git’s rebase feature to apply the commit from one branch to another. Rebase allows you to modify the commit history and apply changes in a more flexible way. However, rebase can be more complex and may require more careful handling.
Related Article: How to Merge Multiple Commits as Single Squashed Commit
Best practices
When cherry picking commits with Git, it is important to follow these best practices:
1. Use descriptive commit messages: When making commits, use clear and descriptive commit messages that explain the changes being made. This will help when identifying the commit to cherry pick.
2. Test the cherry picked changes: After cherry picking a commit, thoroughly test the changes to ensure they have been applied correctly and do not introduce any new issues.
3. Keep track of cherry picked commits: Maintain a record of cherry picked commits to track the changes that have been selectively applied to different branches. This can be useful for reference and future development.