Re: Caution when removing git branches

On Wed, Jan 26, 2011 at 11:26:04AM -0500, Bruce Momjian wrote:
> For those of you using git, I wanted to point out that it is fairly easy
> to remove git branches. For example, I can easily remove a branch on
> my github repository using:
>
> $ git branch -d :branch_name
>
> I don't believe that is revertable. What is scarey is that this could
> be done on our 'origin' as well.

Note: -d only works if the branch is considered "fully merged". You
need -D to override that check.

Also, it is revertable, sort of. If you know the commit ID it was, you
can:

$ git checkout <commit-id>
$ git branch <branchname>
$ git checkout <branchname>

This will work as long as "git gc" hasn't been run since the delete. If
it's referenced from somewhere else then it will work even after
garbage collection.

Have a nice day,
--
Martijn van Oosterhout <kleptog(at)svana(dot)org> http://svana.org/kleptog/
> Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism,
> when hate for people other than your own comes first.
> - Charles de Gaulle