Git Merge vs. Git Rebase: Understanding Key Differences

Introduction

Managing changes across multiple branches is a fundamental activity in software development. This blog post explores the differences, use cases, and performance considerations of using git merge and git rebase.

What is Git Merge?

Git merge is a tool for integrating changes from one branch into another. It combines the development history from two different branches through a new "merge commit".

What is Git Rebase?

Git rebase is another method for integrating changes by compressing all the changes into a single patch and integrating it onto the base branch, often rewriting the project history to create a linear sequence of commits.

Comparing Git Merge and Git Rebase

Advantages of Git Merge:

• Preserves exact history of changes, showing a true representation of project timelines.
• Helpful merge commits for tracking feature integrations.

Disadvantages of Git Merge:

• Can create a cluttered commit history.
• Difficult to navigate, especially for new developers.

Advantages of Git Rebase:

• Creates a clean, linear history that avoids unnecessary merge commits.
• Simplifies history, making it easier to understand the sequence of changes.

Disadvantages of Git Rebase:

• Rewrites commit history, which can be dangerous for shared branches.
• Requires higher level of Git proficiency to manage safely.

When to Use Each

Git Merge is best used when preserving historical context is important, particularly in public or collaborative environments.

Git Rebase is ideal for simplifying a complex history before integrating changes into a public branch.

Conclusion

Both git merge and git rebase offer powerful ways to integrate changes across branches in Git. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right tool for your workflow, enhancing both project manageability and team efficiency.