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Asked: 2024-09-23T13:13:27+05:30 In:

How can I revert a specific file in Git to its state in a previous commit without affecting other changes in the repository? What is the best way to accomplish this?

I’ve been diving deeper into Git lately, and I came across this situation that I’m not quite sure how to handle. So, I wanted to reach out to see if anyone has experienced something similar and can lend me some advice.

Here’s the deal: I’ve got a project where I made a bunch of changes, and I’m pretty happy with most of them. However, I went and messed up one specific file. I usually try to be careful, but I made some updates to my `config.json` that just ended up breaking everything. Now, it’s definitely causing chaos in the project, and I really don’t want to revert all my recent work, because most of it is actually working fine.

I remember there’s a way to revert files back to their previous states in Git, but I’m just not sure how to do it properly without messing anything else up in the repository. It feels a little daunting because I don’t want to accidentally lose other changes I’ve made, you know? I’ve done some reading online, and I think I could use commands like `git checkout` or `git restore`, but I’m not completely confident in how to apply them specifically in this situation.

Also, what if I want to keep track of what I’m doing? Is it better to create a new branch for this process, or should I just handle it on the current branch? I’m kind of worried about it breaking the build or introducing even more issues.

If anyone has a step-by-step way to revert just that specific `config.json` file to its previous state, I’d really appreciate it. Bonus points if you can explain how to check which commit I need to revert to! That way, I’ll not only get my file back but also learn how to approach this kind of issue in the future. Thanks in advance for any tips or insights you can share!

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    2 Answers






    1. Git Help

      Reverting changes in Git

      Sounds like you’ve got a bit of a pickle with that config.json file! No worries, though – we can sort this out without messing up all the awesome work you’ve done. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you revert just that file:

      Step 1: Check Your Git History

      First, let’s see the changes made to config.json. You can do this by running:

      git log -- config.json

      Look through the list of commits. Each commit will show you a commit message, and you can find a point where config.json was working.

      Step 2: Get the Commit SHA

      When you find the right commit, take note of the commit SHA (the long string of numbers and letters). You’ll need this for the next step.

      Step 3: Restore the Specific File

      Now, to revert config.json to that previous state, you can use either:

      • Using git checkout:
        • git checkout commit_SHA -- config.json
      • Or using git restore (this is the newer command):
        • git restore --source=commit_SHA config.json

      This will replace the current version of config.json with the version from that commit.

      Step 4: Review the Changes

      After restoring, check the file to make sure it looks good. You can use:

      git diff

      to see what changes were made before you commit.

      Step 5: Commit the Changes

      If you’re happy with how config.json looks now, don’t forget to commit your changes!

      git add config.json
      git commit -m "Restored config.json to previous state"

      You can continue working on your branch or create a new one if you want to keep things tidy.

      Bonus Tip: Creating a New Branch

      If you’re worried about breaking anything in the current branch, it’s a good idea to create a new branch before making these changes. You can do that with:

      git checkout -b new-branch-name

      This way, your current branch remains untouched until you’re sure everything is working.

      Wrapping Up

      Once you’ve done that, you should be all set! Remember, it’s totally normal to run into issues like this, and every time you tackle one, you get better at using Git.

      Good luck, and happy coding!



    2. To revert your config.json file to a previous state without affecting your other changes, you can use the git checkout or git restore command. Start by identifying the last good commit for config.json with git log -- config.json. This command will list the commits that modified that file, showing you the commit history. Once you’ve identified the desired commit (look for the commit hash), you can revert the file with git checkout -- config.json. Alternatively, with newer Git versions, you can use git restore --source= -- config.json to achieve the same result. This approach allows you to restore the specific file without affecting the rest of your project.

      Regarding whether to create a new branch or work within the current one, it’s often advisable to create a temporary branch for such operations. You can do this by running git checkout -b temp-fix. By doing this, you can safely make modifications and test them without risk to your main branch. Once you’re satisfied with the changes to config.json and have confirmed that everything else is intact, you can merge this branch back into your main branch. This method ensures stability and gives you a backup in case anything goes wrong. Remember to commit your changes after restoring the file and before merging branches.


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