How to use Git stash with multiple branches

Introduction

Git stash is a powerful feature that allows developers to temporarily save uncommitted changes without creating a full commit. This tutorial explores advanced stashing techniques across multiple branches, helping developers manage complex code workflows more effectively and maintain clean, organized version control processes.

Skills Graph

Git Stash Fundamentals

What is Git Stash?

Git stash is a powerful feature that allows developers to temporarily save uncommitted changes without committing them to the repository. It's particularly useful when you need to switch contexts quickly or work on a different branch without losing your current work.

Basic Stash Commands

Stashing Changes

To stash your current modifications, use the following command:

git stash

This command saves your uncommitted changes and reverts the working directory to the last committed state.

Stash Variations

When to Use Git Stash

Common scenarios for using git stash include:

• Switching branches with uncommitted changes
• Pausing current work to address urgent tasks
• Cleaning up your working directory temporarily

Stash Best Practices

1. Always add a descriptive message when stashing
2. Regularly review and clean up your stash list
3. Use git stash pop carefully to avoid conflicts

Advanced Stash Options

Partial Stashing

You can stash specific files or parts of your changes:

## Stash specific files
git stash push path/to/file1 path/to/file2

## Interactive stash
git stash save -p

Potential Pitfalls

• Stashes are local to your repository
• Stashes can be lost if not managed carefully
• Conflicts may occur when reapplying stashed changes

By understanding these fundamentals, developers can leverage Git stash to manage their workflow more efficiently, especially when working on complex projects with LabEx's collaborative development environment.

Stashing Across Multiple Branches

Cross-Branch Stash Management

Git stash provides powerful capabilities for managing changes across different branches, enabling developers to seamlessly transfer and apply modifications between branch contexts.

Stash Creation and Branch Switching

Stashing and Applying to Different Branches

## Create stash in current branch
git stash

## Switch to another branch
git checkout feature-branch

## Apply stash from original branch
git stash apply

Advanced Stash Transfer Techniques

Specific Stash Application

Example Workflow

## On main branch
git stash save "Unfinished feature work"

## Switch to feature branch
git checkout feature-branch

## Apply specific stash
git stash apply stash@{0}

Handling Stash Conflicts

When applying stashes across branches, potential conflicts may arise:

## If conflicts occur
git stash apply
## Resolve conflicts manually
git add .
git commit

Best Practices for Multi-Branch Stashing

1. Use descriptive stash messages
2. Regularly clean up stash list
3. Be cautious when applying stashes to different branches
4. Verify changes before and after stash application

LabEx Workflow Optimization

Developers using LabEx can leverage these stashing techniques to:

• Maintain clean working directories
• Seamlessly transfer work between branches
• Manage complex development scenarios efficiently

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Overwriting existing changes
• Losing track of stashed modifications
• Applying incompatible stashes across branches

By mastering cross-branch stash management, developers can create more flexible and efficient Git workflows.

Practical Stash Workflows

Real-World Stash Scenarios

Git stash becomes powerful when integrated into practical development workflows. This section explores realistic use cases and strategic approaches.

Workflow 1: Emergency Hotfix

Implementation Example

## Stash current feature work
git stash save "WIP: Feature development"

## Switch to main branch
git checkout main

## Create and apply hotfix
git checkout -b hotfix-urgent
## Make necessary changes
git commit -am "Critical security patch"

## Return to original branch
git checkout feature-branch

## Reapply stashed changes
git stash pop

Workflow 2: Collaborative Development

Stash Management Strategies

Advanced Stash Techniques

Interactive Stashing

## Interactively choose which changes to stash
git stash save -p

Stash with Untracked Files

## Include untracked files in stash
git stash save -u "Comprehensive stash"

LabEx Workflow Optimization

Developers can leverage stash in LabEx environments to:

• Maintain clean working directories
• Quickly switch between tasks
• Preserve work-in-progress code

Complex Stash Scenarios

Handling Multiple Stashes

## List all stashes
git stash list

## Apply specific stash
git stash apply stash@{2}

## Drop a specific stash
git stash drop stash@{1}

Workflow 3: Code Review Preparation

Implementation Strategy

## Stash current work
git stash save "Preparing for code review"

## Create clean commit
git add .
git commit -m "Feature implementation"

## After review, return to stashed work
git stash pop

Best Practices

1. Use meaningful stash messages
2. Regularly clean up stash list
3. Be cautious with complex stash operations
4. Understand potential conflict scenarios

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Losing track of stashed changes
• Overwriting existing work
• Neglecting to resolve conflicts
• Creating too many stashes

By mastering these practical workflows, developers can significantly enhance their Git productivity and manage complex development scenarios more effectively.

Summary

By understanding Git stash techniques across multiple branches, developers can significantly improve their version control efficiency. This tutorial has demonstrated how to strategically save, apply, and manage code changes, enabling more flexible and streamlined development workflows while maintaining code integrity and project organization.