Скачать или смотреть Is it better to use git pull --rebase than git pull --ff-only?

Discover the best Git practices to maintain a linear history using `git pull --rebase` versus `git pull --ff-only`.
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Understanding Git Pull Options: --rebase vs. --ff-only

When working collaboratively on a project using Git, one of the most significant challenges can be maintaining a clean, linear history of commits. This is essential for understanding the progression of changes and for simplifying the process of tracking down issues later. A common dilemma faced by developers is whether to use git pull --rebase or git pull --ff-only. In this guide, we will delve into the nuances of both commands and help you decide which option is best for you and your team.

The Problem: Fast-Forwarding Issues

Imagine you're in a situation where your team is actively working on a repository and you need to pull the latest changes from a remote branch into your local branch. Your usual command sequence might look like this:

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However, you might encounter the frustrating error message:

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This error indicates that a fast-forward merge is not feasible. Let's explore why this happens and how to circumvent it.

What Does git pull --ff-only Do?

The git pull --ff-only command is specifically designed to update your current branch with changes from a remote branch, but only if it can do so without creating a merge commit. Here’s what you need to remember:

When to Use: It works well only when there are no local changes on top of your current branch. It allows you to pull updates while ensuring that your commit history remains linear without unnecessary merge commits.

When It Fails: If local changes exist that conflict with incoming changes, git pull --ff-only will abort the operation to prevent complications.

Using git fetch Before Pulling

If you want to see what has changed on the remote branch before merging those changes into your branch, you should first run:

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This command will update all remote branches without affecting your current branch. Once you have fetched changes, you can inspect modifications and decide how to integrate them. Viewing your commit history might look like this:

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The Solution: git pull --rebase

To integrate changes while maintaining a linear commit history, you might want to use git pull --rebase. This command allows you to place your local commits on top of the commits pulled from the remote branch.

Benefits of Using git pull --rebase

Linear History: Your commit history remains clean and straightforward, making it easier for team members to follow.

Flexible Integration: If local changes exist, git pull --rebase will allow you to reapply your commits on top of the updated remote changes, ensuring compatibility.

Avoiding Merge Commits: You won't clutter your project history with unnecessary merge commits that can confuse collaborators.

Incorporating it into Your Workflow

To encourage the use of --rebase across your team, you can set a configuration option in your Git settings:

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Now, every time you run git pull, it will automatically use --rebase instead of default merging. This promotes a standardized approach to interacting with the repository.

How to Handle Conflicts During Rebase

While rebasing can be advantageous, it's essential to understand that conflicts can still arise. If they do, you'll need to resolve these issues manually. Steps to follow include:

Fix the conflict in your files.

Stage the resolved files:

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Continue the rebase process:

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Conclusion

Both git pull --ff-only and git pull --rebase have their use cases, but if maintaining a linear