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How to Revert a Commit in GitHub Desktop
Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
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GitHub Desktop is a user-friendly application that allows you to easily manage your repositories hosted on GitHub. Reverting a commit is one of the essential tasks you may need to perform when dealing with version control, especially if you have made a change that you later consider unnecessary or incorrect. This task is especially important in collaboration environments where maintaining the integrity of the codebase is crucial. Reverting a commit in GitHub Desktop is a straightforward process, but understanding the whole context can help you manage your projects more efficiently. In this guide, we will discuss in-depth how you can revert a commit using GitHub Desktop, touching upon various considerations that may arise during the process.
Understanding commits in git
Before we dive into reverting a commit, it's important to understand what a commit is in the context of Git. In Git, a commit is essentially a snapshot of your project's working directory at a particular point in time. It records the changes you make to files in your repository, along with a message that explains the purpose of those changes. When you commit your changes, Git assigns that commit a unique identifier, known as a SHA (Secure Hash Algorithm). This identifier makes it possible to refer to the commit at any time in the future.
The ability to revert commits is one of the powerful features Git provides, allowing you to undo changes and fix errors. While it is common in software development to make mistakes or decide that a change is no longer needed, Git's robust version control allows such scenarios to be managed effectively.
What does it mean to retract a commitment?
Reverting a commit means creating a new commit that undoes the changes made by the previous commit. It is important to note that reverting does not destroy the old commit or change its history in any way. Instead, a new commit is created that applies the opposite changes of the targeted commit. This approach allows you to maintain the transparency and integrity of your project's history.
Reversion is different from the concept of 'reset' in Git, which can potentially change the commit history, especially in shared branches. Reversion is generally safer when you're working in a collaborative environment, as it doesn't delete the commit, but rather adds additional information to indicate that some changes have been undone.
Getting started with github desktop
To revert a commit using GitHub Desktop, first make sure you have the application installed on your computer. You can download it from the official GitHub Desktop website. Once installed, you need to sign in to your GitHub account and clone the repository where you want to revert the commit. Cloning a repository means creating a local copy on your machine, which allows you to make changes and then push them back to the original repository on GitHub.
After opening GitHub Desktop, navigate to the repository you're interested in by selecting it from the list of available repositories. If the repository isn't already cloned, you can do so by clicking the File menu and selecting Clone Repository to grab it from GitHub.
Finding commitment to return
After opening your repository in GitHub Desktop, you need to locate the commit you want to revert. This can be done by navigating to the History tab, which displays a list of all commits made in the repository, along with the associated commit message and author information.
Carefully review the list of commits to find the specific commit you want to revert. Each commit is displayed with its commit message, author, and date, which can provide context as to which changes were included. Additionally, if you click on a commit, you can see the exact changes made in that commit by inspecting the file differences. This is especially useful when you are unsure whether you have selected the correct commit to revert.
Reverting a commit in github desktop
After identifying the commit you want to revert, make sure you are in the Current Branch tab. This is important because reverting a commit will apply the changes to your current active branch. Avoid working directly on main or master branch if possible, as reverting to these branches without additional checks can disrupt the collaboration process.
After these preparations, find the commit in the History tab. Right-click (or Control-click on some systems) on the commit you want to revert, and click the Revert this Commit option from the context menu. GitHub Desktop will then create a new commit that will undo the changes made in the selected commit.
It is important to review the changes mentioned by the revert to ensure they accurately capture the desired reversion. Once you are satisfied with the changes, you can finalize the process by clicking the Commit to button, which will apply these changes to your branch. Remember to write a descriptive commit message that provides context, such as mentioning the SHA of the revert commit and explaining why it was necessary to revert.
After reverting the commit
Once you've reverted the commit locally, it's important to push the changes to the remote repository on GitHub. This is done by clicking the Push Origin button in GitHub Desktop, which sends your local changes, including the newly reverted commit, to GitHub.
Talk to your team about the changes you made, especially if you are rolling back some important changes. It is good practice to document why the changes were rolled back, as this can help in understanding the history of the project and help team members make informed decisions in the future.
Considerations and best practices
Although rolling back commits is a straightforward process, some best practices and considerations can improve the experience and reduce risk:
- Work on feature branches: Always make potentially disruptive changes such as reverts on feature branches rather than the main branch. This approach allows you to fully test your changes before merging them into the main branch.
- Understand the changes: Before reverting, look at the changes included in the commit. If necessary communicate with the author of the changes to understand the logic behind the commit.
- Ensure there are no conflicts: Make sure your branch is up to date with the changes in the base branch before reverting to minimize the chance of merge conflicts.
- Document well: A good commit message is invaluable. Provide enough context in the revert commit message to make it clear why the revert was necessary.
- Collaborate and communicate: In a team environment, discuss critical changes with stakeholders to ensure everyone is united and in agreement with the changes being reverted.
Handling post-merger disputes
In some cases, reverting a commit can cause a merge conflict, especially if subsequent commits depend on the changes being reverted. In such cases, GitHub Desktop will alert you about the conflict, and you will need to resolve it manually by editing the affected files.
To resolve conflicts, choose the version of the code that should take effect or make the necessary edits to combine the changes from the conflicting versions. Once the conflicts are resolved, mark them as resolved in GitHub Desktop, and proceed to commit the resolved files. If unsure, this can be a point where you can work together with your team to ensure the solution aligns with the project goals.
Conclusion
In short, reverting a commit in GitHub Desktop is a powerful way to manage and correct changes. By following the principles outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth and organized process of maintaining the integrity of your Git repository. Always remember to communicate about reverts with your team and effectively leverage GitHub Desktop features to efficiently manage your version control tasks.
As you continue to work with Git and GitHub Desktop, you will become more familiar with version control concepts, which will ultimately make the reverting process even more seamless. Version control is a crucial part of the software development process, and mastering these skills will undoubtedly enhance your abilities as a developer.
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