Git Pull (with examples)

Git is a distributed version control system that allows multiple developers to collaborate on a project. One of the key features of Git is the ability to pull changes from a remote repository and merge them into the local repository. In this article, we’ll explore different use cases of the git pull command with examples.

Use Case 1: Download changes from default remote repository and merge it

git pull

Motivation: This is the basic use case of git pull. It allows us to fetch the latest changes from the default remote repository (origin) and merge them into the current branch in the local repository. This is useful when multiple developers are working on the same project and you want to stay up-to-date with the latest changes.

Explanation: The git pull command without any additional arguments fetches the latest changes from the default remote repository and merges them into the current branch in the local repository. It performs both git fetch and git merge in a single command.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name
Updating 123456..789abc
Fast-forward
 file1.txt | 1 +
 file2.txt | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

Use Case 2: Download changes from default remote repository and use fast-forward

git pull --rebase

Motivation: When working on a feature branch, it’s important to keep your branch up-to-date with the latest changes from the default branch. Using the --rebase option with git pull allows us to apply our local commits on top of the latest changes in a clean linear history.

Explanation: The --rebase option tells Git to reapply the local commits on top of the latest changes from the remote branch. This prevents unnecessary merge commits and keeps the commit history clean. It is particularly useful when working on a feature branch that is frequently updated.

Example Output:

First, rewinding head to replay your work on top of it...
Applying: Commit message

Use Case 3: Download changes from a specific remote repository and branch, then merge them into HEAD

git pull <remote_name> <branch>

Motivation: If you have multiple remotes or want to pull changes from a specific branch, you can use this form of git pull. It allows you to fetch changes from a different remote repository and merge them into the current branch in the local repository.

Explanation: Replace <remote_name> with the name of the remote repository you want to pull changes from, and <branch> with the branch name. This command fetches the latest changes from the specified remote repository and merges them into the current branch.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/remote/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name
Updating 123456..789abc
Fast-forward
 file1.txt | 1 +
 file2.txt | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

These were the three basic use cases of the git pull command. Now let’s explore some additional options and arguments that can be used with the git pull command.

Use Case 4: Perform a dry run of git pull without actually merging changes

git pull --dry-run

Motivation: Before actually merging the changes, you may want to see what changes will be merged. This is especially useful when you are not sure about the impact of merging the changes or when you want to verify if there will be any conflicts.

Explanation: The --dry-run option allows you to simulate the pull operation without actually merging any changes. Git will display the list of files that would be modified, created, or deleted as a result of the pull operation.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name
Updating 123456..789abc
Would merge file1.txt
Would update file2.txt

Use Case 5: Automatically stash local changes before performing git pull

git pull --autostash

Motivation: When you have local changes that are not committed and you want to pull changes from the remote repository, you may face a conflict. Using the --autostash option with git pull automatically stashes your local changes before the pull operation and applies them back after the remote changes are merged.

Explanation: The --autostash option instructs Git to stash your local changes before performing the pull operation. After merging the remote changes, Git applies the stashed changes back on top of the merged changes.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name
Updating 123456..789abc
Fast-forward
 file1.txt | 1 +
 file2.txt | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
Stashed changes applied

Use Case 6: Fetch changes from the remote repository without merging

git pull --no-merge

Motivation: Sometimes you may want to fetch the latest changes from the remote repository without actually merging them. This can be useful when you want to review the changes before deciding to merge them into the local repository.

Explanation: The --no-merge option fetches the latest changes from the remote repository without performing the merge operation. It updates the remote tracking branches but leaves the local branch unchanged.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name

Use Case 7: Perform only the fetch operation without merging changes

git pull --no-commit

Motivation: If you want to fetch the latest changes from the remote repository but do not want to perform the merge operation or create a merge commit, you can use the --no-commit option with git pull. This can be useful when you want to manually inspect and merge the changes later.

Explanation: The --no-commit option fetches the latest changes from the remote repository but does not perform the merge operation. It updates the remote tracking branches and brings the changes into the local repository, leaving the working directory in an uncommitted state.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name

Use Case 8: Pull changes and use a specific merge strategy

git pull -s <strategy>

Motivation: Git provides several merge strategies to handle different scenarios. The default merge strategy is ‘recursive’. You can specify a different merge strategy using the -s option with git pull command.

Explanation: Replace <strategy> with the desired merge strategy. Common merge strategies include ‘recursive’, ‘resolve’, ‘ours’, ‘subtree’, etc. This option allows you to customize the merging behavior based on the specific requirements of your project.

Example Output:

From https://github.com/user/repo
   123456..789abc  branch-name  -> origin/branch-name
Updating 123456..789abc
Merge made by <strategy>
 file1.txt | 1 +
 file2.txt | 2 +-
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

These were 8 different use cases of the git pull command with examples. Understanding these use cases will help you effectively manage changes in a Git repository and collaborate with other developers.