Using git merge-into Command (with examples)

Use Case 1: Merge a source branch into a specific destination branch

The first use case of the git merge-into command is to merge a source branch into a specific destination branch. This allows you to combine the changes from one branch into another branch.

Code:

git merge-into source_branch destination_branch

Motivation:

Suppose you have been working on a feature branch called “feature_branch” and now you want to merge the changes into the main branch, “master”. The git merge-into command provides a convenient way to accomplish this.

Explanation:

• source_branch: The name of the branch you want to merge into the destination branch.
• destination_branch: The name of the branch where you want to apply the changes from the source branch.

Example Output:

$ git merge-into feature_branch master
Merging branch 'feature_branch' into 'master'
...
Merge successful!

Use Case 2: Merge current branch into a specific destination branch

The second use case of the git merge-into command is to merge the current branch into a specific destination branch. This allows you to easily merge the changes from the current branch into another branch without specifying the source branch explicitly.

Code:

git merge-into destination_branch

Motivation:

Sometimes, you may want to merge the changes from your current branch into another branch without having to check out the source branch explicitly. This can be useful when you are working on a feature branch and want to merge it into the main branch without switching branches.

Explanation:

• destination_branch: The name of the branch where you want to apply the changes from the current branch.

Example Output:

$ git merge-into master
Merging current branch into 'master'
...
Merge successful!

In summary, the git merge-into command provides a convenient way to merge changes from one branch into another branch. Whether you want to merge a specific source branch or the current branch, the command simplifies the process and allows for a smoother collaboration in your Git workflow.