Mastering Git Reflog: Recovering Commits Like a Pro!
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Git Reflog
Imagine you’re working on a software project and have just set up a Git repository. You commit a documentation file named file.txt into it.
After some time, you make additional edits to the documentation and commit these new changes.
When you check the history of your repository with the git log command, you see the progress you’ve made.
Now, let’s say you inadvertently delete your latest commit.
After executing git log again, you notice that the most recent commit has vanished. This could feel like a catastrophic error that jeopardizes your project, making all your hard work seem futile. But fear not! This is where git reflog comes to the rescue!
What Is Git Reflog?
The command git reflog displays the 'Reference Log', which tracks all changes made to the HEAD—the pointer to the latest commit in your branch within the local repository. When you enter the git reflog command in your terminal, you will see a detailed output of your commit history.
How to Recover Deleted Commits?
To revert to your most recent commit (the one that was deleted), simply execute the following command:
$ git reset --hard 8cb16bb
Here, 8cb16bb refers to the commit hash that you wish to recover. Upon running this command, you should see:
HEAD is now at 8cb16bb Added lines to the documentation
If you check the log again using git log, you will find yourself right back to the point where you left off.
Thanks to Git, your hard work remains intact!
For more detailed information about git reflog, visit the official documentation:
Git - git-reflog Documentation
The command can take various subcommands and options depending on what you need:
git reflog [show] [<options>]
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Chapter 2: Video Resources
This video titled "Recovering Lost Commits with Git Reflog" provides a comprehensive overview of how to utilize reflog for commit recovery.
In this video, "You Need to Try Git Reflog," the importance of reflog in Git is highlighted, showcasing its effectiveness in managing commit history.