How to Make the Development Branch Identical to the Master Branch

1. Method 1: Hard Reset
2. Method 2: Merge with Ours Strategy
3. Method 3: Rebase onto Master
4. Method 4: Checkout and Create a New Branch
5. Conclusion
6. FAQ

In the world of software development, maintaining a clean and organized version control system is crucial. When working with Git, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to reset your development branch to match the master branch. This can happen for various reasons, such as wanting to discard changes, align features, or simply start fresh. Fortunately, there are several methods to achieve this, each with its own advantages and use cases.

In this article, we’ll explore different approaches you can use to reset your development branch to be identical to the master branch, ensuring your workflow remains efficient and organized.

Method 1: Hard Reset

One of the most straightforward methods to make your development branch identical to the master branch is to perform a hard reset. A hard reset will discard all local changes in the development branch and align it with the master branch’s current state.

First, ensure you’re on the development branch by running:

git checkout development

Next, execute the hard reset command:

git reset --hard master

Output:

HEAD is now at <commit-hash> <commit-message>

This command essentially tells Git to reset the current branch (development) to the specified commit (the latest commit in the master branch). After performing a hard reset, your development branch will contain all the files and commits from the master branch, effectively discarding any local changes or commits that were present in the development branch.

However, it’s important to note that a hard reset is irreversible. Once you reset, any uncommitted changes or commits that were unique to the development branch will be lost. Therefore, it’s wise to ensure that you have backups or that you genuinely want to discard these changes before proceeding.

Method 2: Merge with Ours Strategy

If you want to keep the commit history intact while making your development branch identical to the master branch, you can use the “ours” merge strategy. This method allows you to merge the master branch into the development branch while ignoring any changes in the development branch.

First, switch to your development branch:

git checkout development

Then, perform the merge with the “ours” strategy:

git merge -s ours master

Output:

Merge made by the 'ours' strategy.

In this case, the merge command combines the branches but keeps the current state of the development branch. This means that the files and changes in the development branch will be replaced with those from the master branch. The commit history will still reflect the merge, allowing you to maintain a record of the changes.

This method is particularly useful when you want to keep a clean history while ensuring that your development branch mirrors the master branch’s state. It’s a safe way to reset your branch without losing the context of previous work.

Method 3: Rebase onto Master

Another effective way to align your development branch with the master branch is to perform a rebase. This method allows you to take the commits from the development branch and apply them on top of the master branch, effectively making the development branch identical to master.

Start by checking out your development branch:

git checkout development

Next, initiate the rebase:

git rebase master

Output:

Successfully rebased and updated refs/heads/development.

During a rebase, Git will attempt to apply each commit from the development branch onto the master branch. If there are any conflicts, you will need to resolve them before the rebase can complete. Once the rebase is finished, your development branch will contain all the commits from the master branch, and any unique commits from development will be reapplied on top.

This method is beneficial if you want to keep your changes while still syncing with the master branch. However, it’s important to note that rebasing rewrites commit history, which can complicate collaboration if others are also working on the same branch.

Method 4: Checkout and Create a New Branch

If you want a fresh start, you can simply create a new branch based on the master branch. This method is useful when you want to discard the current development branch entirely and start anew.

First, ensure you are on the master branch:

git checkout master

Then, create a new branch based on the master:

git checkout -b new-development

Output:

Switched to a new branch 'new-development'

This command creates a new branch called “new-development” that is identical to the current state of the master branch. You can then proceed to make changes on this new branch without any of the previous history or commits from the original development branch.

This approach is particularly useful when you want to keep the old development branch for reference but need a clean slate to work on new features or fixes.

Conclusion

Resetting a development branch to be identical to the master branch is a common task in Git that can be accomplished in various ways. Whether you choose to perform a hard reset, use the “ours” merge strategy, rebase, or create a new branch, each method has its own advantages depending on your workflow and requirements. Understanding these different approaches will help you maintain a clean and organized version control system, ultimately leading to a more efficient development process. Always remember to back up any important changes before proceeding with these operations to avoid unintended data loss.

FAQ

1. How do I reset my development branch without losing changes?
   You can use the merge strategy with “ours” to keep the commit history while aligning with the master branch.

2. What happens to my commit history when I perform a hard reset?
   A hard reset will erase all commit history and changes in the development branch that are not on the master branch.

3. Can I undo a hard reset in Git?
   No, a hard reset is irreversible. It’s crucial to ensure you want to discard changes before executing it.

4. Is rebasing safe for collaborative projects?
   Rebasing rewrites history, so it can complicate collaboration if others are also working on the same branch. Use it cautiously.

5. What is the best method to reset a branch if I want to keep my work?
   The “ours” merge strategy or rebase are good options if you want to keep your work while syncing with the master branch.