Golden rule of rebasing (never rebase public) in Git - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Golden rule of rebasing (never rebase public)

Start with local branch

↓

Perform rebase

↓

Check if branch is public

↓

STOP: Don't rebase

↓

Avoid rewriting history others use

This flow shows that before rebasing, you must check if the branch is public. If yes, stop to avoid rewriting shared history. If no, rebase safely.

Execution Sample

Git

git checkout feature
# local branch

git rebase main
# rebase local branch

git push --force
# force push (dangerous if public)

This example shows rebasing a local feature branch onto main and force pushing, which is safe only if the branch is not public.

Process Table

Step	Action	Branch State	Rebase Allowed?	Result
1	Checkout feature branch	Local only	Yes	Ready to rebase
2	Run git rebase main	Local only	Yes	Branch rebased onto main
3	Check if branch is public	Local only	Yes	Safe to push force
4	Force push to remote	Local only	Yes	Remote updated safely
5	If branch was public	Shared with others	No	Stop! Don't rebase to avoid conflicts

💡 Stop rebasing if branch is public to avoid rewriting shared history

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 2	After Step 4
branch_state	Local only	Rebased locally	Rebased and pushed
rebase_allowed	Yes	Yes	Yes or No depending on public status

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why should you never rebase a public branch?

Because rebasing rewrites history, and if others use that branch, it causes conflicts and confusion. See execution_table row 5.

What does 'force push' do after rebasing?

It updates the remote branch with rewritten history. This is safe only if the branch is local or private. See execution_table row 4.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, at which step do you check if the branch is public?

A Step 3

B Step 1

C Step 4

D Step 2

💡 Hint

Check the 'Action' column in execution_table row 3 for the public branch check.

According to variable_tracker, what is the branch_state after step 4?

A Local only

B Rebased locally

C Rebased and pushed

D Shared with others

💡 Hint

Look at variable_tracker row for branch_state after step 4.

If the branch is public, what should you do according to the concept flow?

A Rebase and force push

B Stop and do not rebase

C Merge instead of rebase

D Delete the branch

💡 Hint

See the 'Yes' branch from 'Check if branch is public' in concept_flow.

Concept Snapshot

Golden Rule of Rebasing:
- Never rebase public branches.
- Rebasing rewrites commit history.
- Rebase only local/private branches.
- Force push only safe on non-public branches.
- Avoid conflicts and confusion for others.

Full Transcript

The golden rule of rebasing is to never rebase public branches. Rebasing changes commit history, which can confuse others if the branch is shared. The flow starts by checking out a local branch, rebasing it onto main, then checking if the branch is public. If it is public, stop rebasing to avoid rewriting shared history. If not, you can safely force push the rebased branch. The execution table shows each step, including checking branch state and whether rebase is allowed. Variable tracking shows the branch state changes from local to rebased and pushed. Key moments clarify why rebasing public branches is dangerous and what force push does. The visual quiz tests understanding of when to check branch status, branch state after pushing, and the correct action if the branch is public. Remember: only rebase local branches to keep history clean and avoid conflicts.

Practice

1. What is the main reason for the golden rule of rebasing: never rebase public?

easy

A. Rebasing public branches speeds up the repository cloning process.

B. Rebasing public branches can rewrite shared history and confuse collaborators.

C. Rebasing public branches automatically merges all conflicts.

D. Rebasing public branches deletes all previous commits permanently.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what rebasing does

   Rebasing rewrites commit history by moving commits to a new base.

2. Step 2: Consider the effect on public branches

   If you rebase a branch others use, their history conflicts with the rewritten one, causing confusion and errors.

3. Final Answer:

   Rebasing public branches can rewrite shared history and confuse collaborators. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Rebasing public = rewrite shared history = confusion [OK]

Hint: Never rebase branches others already use to avoid conflicts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking rebasing speeds cloning
• Believing rebasing auto-resolves conflicts
• Assuming rebasing deletes commits permanently

2. Which of the following is the correct git command to rebase your current branch onto main?

easy

A. git rebase main

B. git rebase -m main

C. git rebase --merge main

D. git rebase --onto main

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall basic rebase syntax

   The command to rebase the current branch onto another is git rebase <branch>.

2. Step 2: Check options given

   Only git rebase main matches the correct syntax to rebase onto main.

3. Final Answer:

   git rebase main -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Basic rebase syntax = git rebase branch [OK]

Hint: Use 'git rebase branchname' to rebase current branch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding unnecessary flags like -m or --merge
• Using --onto incorrectly without extra arguments
• Confusing rebase with merge commands

3. You have a local branch feature that you rebased onto main. What happens if you try to push it to a remote where feature was already shared without force?

medium

A. Push merges remote changes automatically.

B. Push succeeds and overwrites remote history automatically.

C. Push deletes the remote branch.

D. Push is rejected because history has diverged.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand rebasing effect on commit history

   Rebasing rewrites commits, so local branch history differs from remote.

2. Step 2: Consider git push behavior

   Git refuses to push if histories diverge to prevent overwriting others' work unless forced.

3. Final Answer:

   Push is rejected because history has diverged. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Rebase + push without force = rejected [OK]

Hint: Push after rebase needs --force or fails [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming push overwrites remote without force
• Thinking push merges automatically
• Believing push deletes remote branch

4. You accidentally rebased a public branch and now collaborators have conflicts. What is the best way to fix this?

medium

A. Delete the remote branch and recreate it from scratch.

B. Tell collaborators to reset their branches to the new history.

C. Force push the rebased branch and ask collaborators to rebase or reset.

D. Merge the rebased branch into main to fix conflicts.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the problem caused by rebasing public branch

   Rebasing rewrites history, so collaborators' copies conflict with the new history.

2. Step 2: Fix by force pushing and coordinating with collaborators

   Force push updates remote with new history; collaborators must rebase or reset to sync.

3. Final Answer:

   Force push the rebased branch and ask collaborators to rebase or reset. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Fix rebase public = force push + collaborator reset [OK]

Hint: Force push and coordinate resets after rebasing public branch [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting collaborators to fix without reset
• Deleting remote branch unnecessarily
• Merging rebased branch to fix history

5. You want to keep your commit history clean by rebasing, but your branch feature is already pushed and shared. What is the safest workflow to update your branch without breaking the golden rule?

hard

A. Create a new local branch from main, cherry-pick your commits, then push as a new branch.

B. Rebase the shared feature branch directly and force push.

C. Merge main into feature instead of rebasing.

D. Delete the remote feature branch and push your rebased branch with the same name.

Solution

1. Step 1: Avoid rebasing a shared branch directly

   Rebasing shared branches breaks history for others, so avoid it.

2. Step 2: Use a new local branch and cherry-pick commits

   Create a fresh branch from main, apply your commits cleanly, then push as new branch to avoid rewriting shared history.

3. Final Answer:

   Create a new local branch from main, cherry-pick your commits, then push as a new branch. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Keep history clean = new branch + cherry-pick + push new [OK]

Hint: Use new branch + cherry-pick to avoid rebasing shared branches [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Force pushing rebased shared branch
• Merging instead of rebasing when clean history needed
• Deleting remote branch unnecessarily