Day 62 – Git Merge vs Rebase:

After learning Git basics and branching, today I explored one of the most common developer debates:
Should you use git merge or git rebase?

---

🔹 Understanding git merge

Merging takes the contents of one branch and integrates it into another, preserving the full history.

How it works:

git checkout main
git merge feature-branch

This creates a merge commit that links the histories of both branches.

✅ Pros:

• Preserves exact commit history

• Good for public/shared branches

• Safer for teams (less rewriting of history)

⚠️ Cons:

• Can create messy, complex commit histories

---

🔹 Understanding git rebase

Rebasing moves the entire branch to begin on the tip of another branch, rewriting commit history for a cleaner linear flow.

How it works:

git switch feature-branch
git rebase main

This takes all commits from feature-branch and places them on top of main.

✅ Pros:

• Creates a clean, linear commit history

• Easier to follow changes over time

• Ideal for keeping feature branches up to date before merging

⚠️ Cons:

• Rewrites commit history (dangerous if used on public/shared branches)

• Requires caution when collaborating

---

🔹 Merge vs Rebase Visual

Merge

A---B---C main
       \   
        D---E feature
             \
              F---G merge commit

Rebase

A---B---C---D'---E' main

---

🔹 When to Use Merge

• Team collaboration on shared branches

• When you want to preserve exact commit history

• Large projects where historical branching is important

🔹 When to Use Rebase

• Before merging a feature branch into main to keep history clean

• To sync your branch with the latest main changes without extra merge commits

• For small teams or solo projects where history rewriting is safe

---

🔹 Why Use Rebase Instead of Merge?

• Cleaner commit history → easier debugging & reviewing

• No extra merge commits cluttering the timeline

• Keeps project history looking like it was developed in a straight line

---

✅ Takeaway:

• Merge = Keep history as it happened

• Rebase = Make history look like it happened in order

Important note

• Never rebase on the main branch

• Alway switch to the branch you want to rebase