Git Pull: A Detailed Explanation

Do you wonder if there is a way you can perform the combined operation of Git Fetch and Git Merge with a single command? The answer is- Yes! With the help of Git Pull, you can fetch and merge changes without the user's interference. Performing a Git Pull command merges the changes without displaying or notifying the user about the merged changes.  

In this blog, we provide an in-depth understanding of Git Pull and discuss its usage and workings to help you learn everything you need to know about this command and how to use it best. 

Table of Contents 

1) What is Git Pull Command?  

2) Usage of Git Pull  

3) Working of Git Pull  

4) Git Pull Discussion  

5) Git Pull and Syncing  

6) Pulling via Rebase  

7) Git Pull on Remotes  

8) Steps to Create a Pull Request  

9) Examples of Git Pull  

10) Conclusion 

What is Git Pull Command? 

The Git Pull Command updates the local repository instantly with newly downloaded and fetched content from a remote repository. Git-based collaboration processes frequently involve merging distant upstream changes into your local repository.  

Git Pull is a blend of Git Fetch and Git Merge that updates the local branch with changes from the remote repository branch. This way, the updated code will be on each developer's local PC, enabling them to work with the most recent version. 

The git pull command has the syntax shown below: 

git pull [remote-name] [branch-name] 

Usage of Git Pull 

The primary purpose of Git Pull is to leverage a remote repository to update your local repository. This primarily aims to maintain the local repository's updates with the remote repository or keep the local repository in loop with the remote repository. The following are some typical circumstances in which Git Pull would be used: 

a) Joint product development  

b) Staying up to date 

c) Feature branches being updated 

d) Pulling and combining Updates 

e) Taking Rebase Updates 

Working of Git Pull 

The Git Pull command starts by downloading content from the designated remote repository using Git Fetch. The remote content references are combined using Git Merge, creating a new local merge commit.  

For illustration, assume we have a repository with a remote origin and a primary branch. In this case, Git Pull will download all the changes from the location where the local and main diverged. Subsequently, the content of the newly diverged remote commits will be included in a new local merge commit created by the pull process.   

This is just one Git Pull merging strategy out of several. The rebase option can be supplied to the Git Pull command to employ a rebase merging method rather than a merge commit. 

Git Pull Discussion 

Consider Git Pull to be Git's equivalent of SVN update. It's a simple method of updating your local repository with downstream modifications. Every stage of the pulling procedure is explained in the diagram that follows: 

Git Pull and Syncing 

'Syncing' remote content requires numerous commands, including Git Pull. The remote endpoints the synchronising commands will work on are specified using the Git Remote command. A remote repository can have content uploaded to it using the Git Push command.  

It's possible to mix up the commands Git Fetch and Git Pull. Both are used to download remote content. However, there is a significant safety difference between them. Git fetch won't change the local repository's state; instead, it will download the remote material. As an alternative, Git Pull will attempt to update the local state to reflect the remote material as soon as it is downloaded. 

Pulling via Rebase 

The Rebase option ensures a linear history and stops pointless merging commits. Since rebasing is akin to saying, "I want to put my changes on top of what everybody else has done," many developers prefer it over merging. This is how Git Pull with the Rebasing flag differs from standard Git Pull in that it behaves even more like an SVN update.   

Pulling with Rebase is indeed such a widespread operation that it has its configuration option: 

git config --global branch.autosetuprebase always 

Following that command, Git Rebase will be used for integration rather than Git Merge for any Git Pull requests. 

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Git Pull on Remotes 

A repository's remote branches are all accessible after it has been cloned. This can be confirmed by using the Git Branch command with the -r option: 

git branch –r 

Use the Git Pull command to get remote branches and merge them into your work or edit your current work. Utilise the following command to accomplish this: 

git pull –all 

After that, you can check to see if the remote repository has been added by running the git branch—r command.  

Steps to Create a Pull Request 

To initiate a pull request, you must:  

1) Make a fork if you don't already have one  

2) Make a local duplicate of the repository 

3) Make modifications and create a new branch  

4) Apply your code 

5) In GitHub, make a pull request 

6) Go to your repository on GitHub and click the “Compare & pull request” button 

7) After giving the required information about your work, submit the pull request 

You will receive an email after your pull request is accepted. 

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Examples of Git Pull 

Here are some examples of using Git Pull:  

a) Performing Tasks on a Branch: Before beginning work, use Git Pull to pull updates from the remote branch and merge them. 

b) Keep Main up to date: Use Git Pull origin master to retrieve and incorporate updates from the remote master branch into your local master branch.  

c) Pull and Rebase: Use Git Pull to pull and merge changes from a particular branch of the remote repository.  

d) Pull From a Specific Branch: To get and rebase changes from the remote branch, run ‘git pull –rebase'. 

Conclusion 

We hope you read this blog and understand all the aspects of Git Pull, including its usage and workings. Understanding the networking aspects of Git Pull will allow you to collaborate with other people. This makes mastering the Git Pull command extremely necessary. 

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