Too many conflicts after Rebasing

Introduction §

Encountering numerous conflicts during a rebase can be daunting. This guide offers a systematic approach to address this situation, making the rebase process more manageable.

Steps to Resolve Rebase Conflicts §

1. Abort the Current Rebase:

   • If you’re stuck in a rebase with too many conflicts, the first step is to abort it.

   git rebase --abort

   • This command will stop the rebase and revert your branch to the state before you started the rebase.

2. Identify the Divergence Point:

   • Find the commit where your branch diverged from the main branch.

   git merge-base main my-branch

   • This command will output the SHA (commit hash) of the common ancestor of your branch and main.

3. Squash Commits in Your Branch:

   • Squash all the commits in your branch into a single commit starting from the divergence point.

   git rebase -i $SHA_YOU_FOUND

   • Replace $SHA_YOU_FOUND with the SHA hash from step 2.
   • In the interactive rebase mode (-i), squash your commits into a single commit.

4. Rebase on main Again:

   • After squashing, rebase your branch onto the main branch.

   git rebase main

   • This time, you’ll have to resolve conflicts for only one commit instead of multiple commits, simplifying the process.

Tips for Managing Conflicts §

• Resolve conflicts incrementally: If squashing isn’t an option, consider rebasing a few commits at a time to deal with conflicts in smaller, more manageable batches.
• Use tools for conflict resolution: Tools like merge conflict resolution tools in text editors or IDEs can simplify the process of resolving conflicts.
• Seek help if needed: If the conflicts are too complex or you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a teammate or a version control expert.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and simplify the process of resolving conflicts during a rebase.