Amending the last commit in Git - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the command git commit --amend do?

It lets you change the last commit by adding new changes or editing the commit message without creating a new commit.

beginner

How can you change only the commit message of the last commit without changing files?

Run git commit --amend without staging new changes. This opens the editor to edit the message.

intermediate

True or False: Amending a commit changes the commit's unique ID (hash).

True. Amending creates a new commit with a new ID because the commit content changes.

intermediate

Why should you be careful when amending commits that have already been pushed to a shared repository?

Because it rewrites history and can cause problems for others who pulled the original commit.

beginner

What is the difference between git commit --amend and creating a new commit?

Amending changes the last commit itself, while a new commit adds a separate change on top of the history.

What happens if you run git commit --amend after staging new changes?

A The staged changes are discarded.

B A new commit is created without changing the last commit.

C The last commit is replaced with a new commit including the staged changes.

D Git shows an error and stops.

Amending replaces the last commit with a new one that includes the staged changes.

Which command lets you edit the last commit message without changing files?

A git commit --amend

B git commit --fix

C git commit --edit

D git commit --message

The --amend option opens the editor to change the last commit message.

Why is it risky to amend commits that have been pushed to a shared repository?

A It locks the repository for others.

B It deletes the repository.

C It automatically merges conflicts.

D It can confuse others because the commit history changes.

Amending rewrites history, which can cause conflicts for collaborators.

What is the effect on the commit ID when you amend a commit?

A The commit ID changes because the commit is new.

B The commit ID stays the same.

C The commit ID is deleted.

D The commit ID duplicates.

Amending creates a new commit with a new unique ID.

If you want to add forgotten changes to your last commit, what should you do?

A Run <code>git commit</code> without options.

B Stage the changes and run <code>git commit --amend</code>.

C Run <code>git reset</code>.

D Delete the last commit.

Staging changes and amending updates the last commit with those changes.

Explain how to safely amend the last commit message without changing any files.

Think about the steps to change only the message.

Describe the risks of amending commits that have already been pushed to a shared repository and how to avoid problems.

Consider teamwork and shared history.