How to use the command git cherry-pick (with examples)
Git cherry-pick is a powerful command that allows developers to apply the changes introduced by existing commits to the current branch. This command is particularly useful when you want to bring specific commits from one branch to another or when you want to cherry-pick specific changes from different commits. With git cherry-pick, you have the flexibility to select, apply, and merge commits without having to perform a full merge.
Use case 1: Apply a commit to the current branch
Code:
git cherry-pick commit
Motivation: The motivation behind using this example is when you want to apply a specific commit to the current branch. This can be helpful if you are working on a feature branch and want to bring in a bug fix or a specific enhancement from another branch.
Explanation:
git cherry-pick: This is the main command to apply changes from existing commits.commit: This is the commit identifier or hash of the commit you want to apply.
Example output:
[feature-branch abcd1234] Apply bug fix from commit xyz7890
1 file changed, 5 insertions(+)
Use case 2: Apply a range of commits to the current branch
Code:
git cherry-pick start_commit~..end_commit
Motivation: This use case is suitable when you want to apply a range of consecutive commits to the current branch. It can be beneficial if you want to bring a series of related changes from one branch to another, such as a series of commits from a development branch to a release branch.
Explanation:
git cherry-pick: The command to apply changes from commits.start_commit~: The commit identifier or hash at the start of the range.end_commit: The commit identifier or hash at the end of the range.
Example output:
[release-branch efgh5678] Apply feature A, B, and C
3 files changed, 102 insertions(+), 27 deletions(-)
Use case 3: Apply multiple (non-sequential) commits to the current branch
Code:
git cherry-pick commit_1 commit_2
Motivation: This example is useful when you want to pick and apply specific non-sequential commits to the current branch. It allows you to select and merge only the commits that are relevant to your current work.
Explanation:
git cherry-pick: The command to apply changes from commits.commit_1: The first commit identifier or hash you want to apply.commit_2: The second commit identifier or hash you want to apply.
Example output:
[feature-branch xyz7890] Apply code changes from commits abc1234 and def5678
2 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 15 deletions(-)
Use case 4: Add the changes of a commit to the working directory, without creating a commit
Code:
git cherry-pick --no-commit commit
Motivation: The motivation behind this example is when you want to retrieve the changes introduced by a specific commit and continue working on it without creating a new commit. This can be useful if you want to preview the changes or if you want to manually modify the code before committing.
Explanation:
git cherry-pick: The command to apply changes from commits.--no-commit: An option that prevents the creation of a new commit.commit: The commit identifier or hash you want to apply.
Example output:
[NO COMMIT] Applying changes from commit pqr3456
Conclusion:
The git cherry-pick command is a handy tool for applying changes from existing commits to the current branch. By using different variations of this command, you can selectively choose, apply, and merge commits in a flexible and controlled manner. Whether you want to bring individual commits, a range of commits, or non-sequential commits, git cherry-pick provides the necessary functionality to efficiently manage your codebase.
