Published March 30, 2020
Updated March 30, 2020
Git Rebase Edit
Demonstrates how to edit a previously created commit.
Transcript
# Hello and welcome to the Alchemists Screencasts! # Today, we'll learn about Git Rebase Edit. # Before starting, it might help to watch/rewatch these screencasts: # - Git Rebase Fixup # - Git Rebase Squash # The above tackles a similar workflow. # For context, here's the Ruby script we've been working on: ruby calc.rb 1 2 # Our team has requested we print mathematical calculations instead of sentences. # At first glance, it might seem like we can do the following: # - Fix the original implementation. # - Make a new commit explaining the changes. # - Rebase to mend the original commit and clean up our history. # 💡 Again, refer to the Git Rebase Fixup and Squash screencasts. # Luckily, Git allows us to edit commits. # Let's review the Git history: gl # 💡 See the *Git Log Pretty* screencast to learn more about the `gl` alias. # Here's the commit we need to edit:
git show # There are a couple of issues with this commit: # 1. Implementation needs fixing (as mentioned earlier). # 2. Commit does not explain *why* it was made (i.e. the commit body). # To correct, we'll use Git Rebase Edit: git rebase --interactive
# If you didn't catch all of that, feel free to rewind and watch again. 😉 # Let me explain, though: # 1. "p" (pick) was changed to "e" (edit) so Git knows to *edit* the commit. # 2. We saved and exited to let Git perform the instruction. # 3. Git stopped the rebase so we can edit our commit accordingly. # We are stopped at our "Added calculator implementation" commit. # Git instructs us next steps: # 1. Use `git commit --amend` to edit the commit. # 2. Use `git rebase --continue` to resume and finish the rebase. # 💡 You can also use `git rebase --abort` to exit the rebase and start over. # Lastly, if still not convinced you are editing the right commit, use: git rebase --show-current-patch # The above works like `git show` but sensitive to where you are in the rebase. 🎉 # 💡 Show current patch is so handy, you might want to alias it. # Now we can fix our implementation: vi calc.rb
ruby calc.rb 1 2 # Great, let's amend these changes as instructed by Git: git commit --all --amend
# 💡 `--all` was used to avoid having to type `git add calc.rb`. # Let's check our status: git status --short # Great, our changes are ammended properly. # For more verbosity, use: git status # Once again, Git informs us of our next steps and its next steps. 🎉 # Did you notice we can edit the remaining Rebase TODOs? # This is a handy feature and worth seeing before continuing the rebase: git rebase --edit-todo
# I exited the Rebase TODO Editor to show what's left to do in the rebase. # We could have instructed Git to edit, reword, drop, etc. the last commit. # This is a great way to edit the rebase mid-stream beyond our initial edit. 🎉 # OK, fun digression aside, let's complete the rebase: git rebase --continue gl # Our Git log remains the same (although the last two SHAs changed due to the rebase).
# Here's the edited commit: git show # Finally, let's run the code to confirm our edit: ruby calc.rb 1 2 # Here's what I love about this workflow: # 1. We edited the original implementation and commit message while erasing our mistake. # 2. We did all of this via the single Git Rebase Edit TODO instruction. # 3. Reviewers will have a high signal to noise when providing feedback. # 4. Our implementation looks as if it was crafted perfectly the first time. 🎉 # Git Rebase Edit can also aid in running tests and/or performing other actions. # You don't get this capability when using Git Rebase Fixup or Squash. # I leave the rest up to you to experiment further. # Enjoy! # https://alchemists.io # ☿ 🜔 🜍 🜂 🜃 🜁 🜄