Have you ever wished for an "undo" button while working with Git? Well, you're in luck! This blog post will discuss using git reset to sync your local branch with the remote repository. It's a real game-changer in case we cluttered our local branch.
I’ll show you how to reset your local branch to the remote version and explain why you may want to do that. By the end of this post, you'll clearly understand git reset command and how it can help you fix your coding problems.
Let's get started! ✌
How to Reset a Local Branch to a Remote Branch?
Resetting your local branch to a remote branch can be broken down into simple steps. So, let's walk through the process together.
1. Save Your Work On Local Branch
Before you jump into resetting, it's essential to save any work you've done on your local branch. You can do this by committing your changes or stashing them.
If you want to commit, use the commands below to create a new branch with your saved committed changes:
git commit -a -m "Saving my changes"
git branch saved-workYou can also use git stash to keep your changes:
git stash
2. Checkout to the Right Branch
First, make sure you're on the correct branch to get started. If you are not, use git checkout to switch to the branch you want to reset.
git checkout branch-name
3. Fetch From Remote
Now that you're on the right branch, it's time to fetch the latest changes from the remote repository. Use git fetch. This will update your local repository with the latest changes from the remote.
git fetch origin
4. Reset Local Branch
Once you have the latest changes fetched, you can reset your local branch. By using the command git reset, we ensure that our local branch is reset to the same state as the remote branch, and the flag --hard discards any local changes.
git reset --hard origin/branch-name
5. Clean Up Untracked Changes
If there are any untracked files after you use git reset, you can clean them up with the git clean command. Flags -f removes files and flag -d directories.
git clean -fd
Why Reset a Local Branch?
Resetting a local branch can be helpful in many different situations. For example, when your local branch differs significantly from the remote, and you want to start fresh. It's also useful when you're working on a team and you need to sync your local branch with the latest changes made by your teammates.
What Is the Difference Between Local and Remote Branches?
Local branches exist only on your local machine. They are your workspace where you can commit changes, experiment with code, and create new branches without affecting the remote repository. You need to push your local branch to the remote repository to share your changes with your team.
Remote branches exist on a remote repository, such as GitHub or GitLab. They act as a central point for collaboration, enabling multiple developers to share and contribute to a project. When you clone a repo, you make a local copy of the remote branches. To update your local branches with the latest changes from the remote, you need to fetch or pull from the remote repository.
Wrapping Up
In this blog post, you’ve learned how to reset your local git branches to their remote versions with the git reset command. By following these steps, you should be easily able to maintain well-organized repositories. And, once again, remember to save your work before making any permanent changes.
Happy coding ✌
