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Anji Keesari

Undoing changes with git reset

Reset a branch to a specific tag in Git

Introduction

git reset is a powerful command in Git that allows you to undo changes in your working directory and reset the repository to a specific commit. This is useful when you want to discard commits and get back to a particular state in your project's history.

Scenario

Let's consider a scenario where you have two branches: main and develop. The main branch was initially in a good state, but due to a mistake, some commits were accidentally merged into it instead of the develop branch. Now, you need to reset the main branch to its original state.

Steps to Reset `main` Branch

Follow these steps to reset the main branch:

Check the Status:
```
git status
```
Switch to main Branch:
```
git checkout main
```
View Commit History:
```
git log --oneline
```
Perform the Reset:
```
git reset --hard 592ac92
```
Replace 592ac92 with the commit hash you want to reset to.
Force Push to Remote:
```
git push -f origin main
```
This forcefully overwrites the existing history in the upstream repository.

Conclusion

Using git reset can be a lifesaver when you need to undo changes and get back to a specific commit. However, use it with caution, especially when force-pushing, as it can rewrite history.