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Resolving merge conflicts is an essential skill in version control systems, particularly when collaborating on software development. A merge conflict occurs when the same part of a file has been modified in two different branches, and Git cannot automatically reconcile the differences. Below is a detailed guide on how to resolve merge conflicts, along with further reading resources.

Steps to Resolve Merge Conflicts

  1. Identify the Conflict:
    After attempting to merge two branches (using git merge), Git will stop the process if it encounters any conflicts. You will see a message indicating which files have conflicts.

    git status

    The output will show files that are in conflict (marked as "unmerged").

  2. Open the Conflicted File:
    Open the file that has the merge conflict in your favorite text editor. You will see conflict markers indicating the conflicting sections.

    • <<<<<<< HEAD – This shows the changes from the current branch.

    • ======= – This separates the changes from the current branch and the incoming branch.

    • >>>>>>> [other branch] – This shows the changes from the branch being merged.

  3. Resolve the Conflict:
    Manually edit the file to resolve the conflicts. You need to decide which changes to keep. You can choose one side or combine elements from both sides as necessary. Delete the conflict markers after you have made your decision.

  4. Stage the Resolved File:
    After resolving the conflicts and saving your changes, you need to stage the resolved file.

    git add <filename>

  5. Complete the Merge:
    After staging, you can complete the merge process by committing the changes.

    git commit

    If you are merging as part of a pull request, you may have to push your changes to a remote repository.

  6. Verify the Merge:
    Once the merge is complete, verify that the changes work as expected. Compile and run tests if your project requires it to ensure that no breaking changes have been introduced.

  7. Communicate with Your Team:
    If you’re working in a team, be sure to communicate with the other contributors regarding the resolved conflicts to keep everyone on the same page.

Further Reading

  1. Official Git Documentation:

  2. GitHub Guides:

  3. Codecademy:

  4. Atlassian Git Tutorials:

  5. FreeCodeCamp:

Disclaimer

This response has been generated by an AI language model and is intended for informational purposes only. While the information provided is based on current knowledge of Git and version control, users should consult official documentation or experienced colleagues for specific implementation advice or troubleshooting assistance. Always back up your code and commit frequently to avoid substantial issues during merges.

By understanding these steps and utilizing the provided resources, you should be better equipped to manage and resolve merge conflicts in your projects.