Git Reset from Repository - Shell/Bash

Git reset is a powerful command used to undo changes in Git. It's useful when you've made a mistake and need to roll back to an earlier commit or discard changes. In this guide, we'll cover how to use the git reset command in a shell or bash environment.

Prerequisites

Before using the git reset command, you'll need to have Git installed on your computer. If you haven't already installed Git, you can download it from the official website: https://git-scm.com/downloads

Syntax

The syntax of the git reset command is as follows:

git reset [options] [commit]

• [options]: These are the different options available with the git reset command. We'll cover these in more detail in the next section.
• [commit]: This is the commit you want to reset to. It can be a commit hash or a branch name.

Options

There are several options available with the git reset command:

• --soft: This option resets the HEAD to the specified commit, but leaves the changes in the working directory. You'll need to use the git commit command to commit the changes.
• --mixed: This option resets the HEAD to the specified commit and updates the index, but does not modify the working directory. Changes are preserved but not committed.
• --hard: This option resets the HEAD to the specified commit and removes all changes made after that commit. This is a destructive option, as it permanently removes changes from your working directory.

Examples

Here are a few examples of how to use the git reset command:

Example 1: Reset to a specific commit

To reset your repository to a specific commit, you can use the following command:

git reset --hard <commit-hash>

Replace <commit-hash> with the hash of the commit you want to reset to.

Example 2: Undo last commit

To undo the last commit, you can use the following command:

git reset --soft HEAD~1

This resets the HEAD to the commit before the last one, but keeps the changes in your working directory.

Example 3: Discard changes

To discard all changes since the last commit, you can use the following command:

git reset --hard HEAD

This resets the repository to the last commit and removes any changes made after that.

Conclusion

The git reset command is a powerful tool for undoing changes in Git. Whether you need to roll back to an earlier commit or discard changes, git reset has you covered. By using the different options available with the git reset command, you can reset your repository to a specific commit or undo the last commit.