How to use the command git-imerge (with examples)

Git-imerge is a command that allows you to perform incremental merges or rebases between two Git branches, making conflict resolution easier by tracking down conflicts to individual commits. It provides a more organized and manageable approach to handling conflicts in Git.

Use case 1: Start imerge-based rebase

Code:

git imerge rebase branch_to_rebase_onto

Motivation: This command allows you to start an imerge-based rebase by specifying the branch you want to rebase onto. It is useful when you want to incorporate changes from another branch into your current branch while keeping track of individual commit conflicts for easier resolution.

Explanation:

• git imerge is the command used to initiate an imerge operation.
• rebase is the subcommand that specifies we want to perform a rebase operation.
• branch_to_rebase_onto is the branch we want to rebase onto, which is the target branch where we want to incorporate changes from.

Example output:

Merging commits...
Auto-merging file.txt
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in file.txt
Automatic merge failed; fix conflicts and then commit the result.

Use case 2: Start imerge-based merge

Code:

git imerge merge branch_to_be_merged

Motivation: This command allows you to start an imerge-based merge by specifying the branch you want to merge into. It is useful when you want to combine changes from another branch into your current branch, while keeping track of individual commit conflicts for easier resolution.

Explanation:

• git imerge is the command used to initiate an imerge operation.
• merge is the subcommand that specifies we want to perform a merge operation.
• branch_to_be_merged is the branch we want to merge into our current branch.

Example output:

Merging commits...
Auto-merging file.txt
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in file.txt
Automatic merge failed; fix conflicts and then commit the result.

Use case 3: Show ASCII diagram of in-progress merge or rebase

Code:

git imerge diagram

Motivation: This command allows you to visualize the current state of the in-progress imerge merge or rebase operation using an ASCII diagram. It provides a clearer understanding of the changes being made and helps in conflict resolution.

Explanation:

• git imerge is the command used to work with imerge operations.
• diagram is the subcommand that displays the ASCII diagram of the in-progress merge or rebase operation.

Example output:

*   12345abc (branch_to_be_merged) Merge branch 'branch_to_rebase_onto' into branch_to_be_merged
|\  
| * f9a0d319 (branch_to_rebase_onto) Commit 2
* | 8a979739 Commit 3
|/  
* 3c03879d Commit 4

Use case 4: Continue imerge operation after resolving conflicts

Code:

git imerge continue --no-edit

Motivation: This command allows you to continue the imerge operation after resolving conflicts. It is useful when you have resolved the conflicts in the conflicting files and want to proceed with the merge or rebase operation.

Explanation:

• git imerge is the command used to work with imerge operations.
• continue is the subcommand that resumes the imerge operation after resolving conflicts.
• --no-edit is an optional flag that prevents opening a text editor to review the commit message. It is useful for automation and bulk operations.

Use case 5: Wrap up imerge operation, after all conflicts are resolved

Code:

git imerge finish

Motivation: This command allows you to finalize the imerge operation after resolving all conflicts. It completes the merge or rebase process, applying all the resolved conflicts and creating a new commit.

Explanation:

• git imerge is the command used to manage imerge operations.
• finish is the subcommand that wraps up the imerge operation, applying the resolved conflicts and creating a new commit.

Use case 6: Abort imerge operation and return to the previous branch

Code:

git-imerge remove && git checkout previous_branch

Motivation: This command allows you to abort the imerge operation and return to the previous branch. It is useful when you want to discard the current merge or rebase operation and continue working on the previous branch.

Explanation:

• git-imerge is the command used to manage imerge operations.
• remove is the subcommand that removes the imerge-related metadata and state.
• git checkout previous_branch is a separate Git command that allows you to switch to the previous branch.

Conclusion:

The git-imerge command provides a powerful way to perform incremental merges and rebases, giving you granular control over conflict resolution in Git. By making use of the various subcommands, you can effectively manage and resolve conflicts at the commit level, leading to a more organized and manageable development workflow.