How to Remove a Specific Commit from a Git Branch Safely

Описание: Discover the best way to `revert` a commit in your Git branch without causing issues. Follow our step-by-step guide!
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/63125998/ asked by the user 'jinjineos' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/10747340/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/63126020/ provided by the user 'Tim Biegeleisen' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1863229/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Remove a Specific Commit from a Git Branch Safely

In the world of version control, we often find ourselves in situations where we need to fix or adjust our commits. One common problem is needing to remove a specific commit from a branch after pushing it to a remote repository. If you've encountered this issue, you're not alone! In this post, we'll explain how to effectively remove a commit from your Git branch while ensuring that it doesn't disrupt your project's history. Let’s get started.

The Scenario

Imagine your remote repository has the following commit history on the branch called v0.1:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this example, you want to remove the commit 765th4 but keep it intact in other branches. This is a common situation, and it's essential to handle it carefully to avoid any conflicts or issues for your collaborators.

The Solution: Using git revert

The safest and most straightforward approach to handle this situation is not to delete the commit outright but to revert it using the command git revert. This command creates a new commit that effectively cancels out the changes introduced by the specified commit. Here’s how to do it:

Step-by-Step Instructions

Switch to the Correct Branch
Before you start, ensure you are on the branch v0.1 where you want to revert the commit. You can do this by running:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Run the Revert Command
Next, execute the following command to revert the commit 765th4:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Verify the Change
After the revert command, you can check your commit history by running:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Your history should now look like this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

In this case, abc123 is the SHA-1 identifier for the new revert commit that has been created at the HEAD of your v0.1 branch.

What Happens Next?

By using git revert, you have effectively undone the changes that 765th4 introduced. This method preserves your project history and maintains the integrity of your branch. Here’s why this is advantageous:

Prevents History Rewrite: Unlike other methods, git revert doesn’t rewrite commit history, which could disrupt other collaborators relying on that history.

Safe and Reversible: The revert operation is safe; if you make a mistake, you can revert the revert.

When to Avoid Reverting

While git revert is generally the best method for removing commits from a public branch, there are scenarios where you might consider other options, such as:

Interactive Rebase: This method can completely remove a commit from history, but it's best avoided once the history has been shared with others. It can lead to confusion for anyone using the same branch.

In conclusion, if you're looking to remove a specific commit from a Git branch safely, your best bet is to revert it using the simple command provided above. This approach saves you from potential headaches down the line and keeps your project history clean and collaborative-friendly.

Now you know how to handle this situation! If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out. Happy coding!