When you run the command git reset --hard origin, it resets your local repository to the state of the remote repository (usually called "origin"). This means it will discard all changes you have made locally and make your local code exactly the same as what is on the remote repository. It is a forceful and permanent action, so it should be used with caution as it can cause you to lose any changes that have not been committed.
Best Git Books to Read in September 2024
What is the difference between git reset --hard origin and git clean -f?
The git reset --hard origin command resets the current branch to match the origin/master branch, discarding any changes made to the working directory and index. It will move the HEAD and the current branch to the specified commit, effectively discarding any local changes.
On the other hand, the git clean -f command removes untracked files and directories from the working directory. It will delete files and directories that are not tracked by Git.
In summary, git reset --hard origin resets the branch to a specific commit, while git clean -f removes untracked files from the working directory.
What is the difference between git reset and git reset --hard origin?
git reset is used to move the HEAD and the current branch to a specific commit while keeping your changes in the working directory. It does not affect the staged changes.
git reset --hard origin is used to move the HEAD and the current branch to the commit at the origin branch, discarding all changes in the working directory and staging area. It will reset the working directory and staging area to match the specified commit.
What is the impact of git reset --hard origin on submodules?
When you use git reset --hard origin in a parent repository that contains submodules, it will affect the submodules in the following ways:
- Reset the parent repository to match the state of the remote repository's HEAD commit.
- Reset the submodules to match the state of the remote repository's HEAD commit as specified in the parent repository's .gitmodules file.
- Any local changes in the parent repository or submodules will be permanently discarded and replaced with the versions from the remote repository.
- Make sure to run git submodule update --init --recursive after running git reset --hard origin to update and initialize all submodules to their correct state.
Overall, git reset --hard origin will synchronize both the parent repository and its submodules with the remote repository's HEAD commit, effectively discarding any local changes and resetting everything to a clean state.
How to avoid losing work when using git reset --hard origin?
- Always make sure to commit or stash your changes before using git reset --hard origin to avoid losing any work.
- Use git branch to create a new branch before resetting your changes. This way, you can switch back to the original branch if needed.
- Use git fetch to update your local repository with the remote changes before using git reset --hard origin.
- Double check the changes that will be lost before running git reset --hard origin to ensure that you are okay with losing them.
- Consider using a safer reset command, such as git reset --soft origin, which will keep your changes staged and ready to be committed.
- Make regular backups of your work to ensure that you have a copy in case anything goes wrong.
