When working with Git, conflicts occur when there is overlap or clash between changes in the source code.
For example, two individuals make edits to the same line in a file. In such cases, Git cannot automatically determine the final version and requires user intervention to resolve the conflict.
Here are the detailed steps to resolve conflicts in Git:
Identify the conflict
When you execute the git merge or git pull command and conflicts arise, Git will notify you about the conflict and display a list of conflicting files.
Check the conflicting files
Open the conflicting files in a text editor and identify the locations of the conflicting code sections. The conflicting parts will be marked with "<<<<<<<", "=======", and ">>>>>>>".
Example:
<<<<<<< HEAD
Code from your branch
=======
Code from the other branch
>>>>>>> other-branch
Resolve the conflict
Modify the source code to resolve the conflict. You can keep a portion of the code, modify the existing code, or even replace the entire code with a completely new version. The goal is to ensure that the source code functions correctly and meets the project requirements after resolving the conflict.
Example, after resolving the conflict:
Updated code that resolves the conflict
Commit the changes after resolving the conflict
Use the git add command to stage the resolved file for committing. Then, use the git commit command to create a new commit that records the resolved changes.
Example:
git add myfile.txt
git commit -m "Resolve conflict in myfile.txt"
Note: During the conflict resolution process, you may need to discuss and collaborate with other team members to reach a consensus on the appropriate resolution for the conflict.
By following these steps, you can effectively resolve conflicts in Git, ensuring continuity and synchronization in the software development and source code management process.