In a Git workflow, merging is the process of integrating changes from one branch into another. This is a crucial step when collaborating on IBM i applications, as it allows developers to combine their work and resolve any conflicts that may arise. In this lesson, we'll cover the process of merging Git branches on IBM i systems.
Step 1: Access the PASE Environment
If you're using Git installed in the IBM i Portable Application Solutions Environment (PASE), you'll need to access the PASE command line. You can do this by logging in to your IBM i system and running the following command:
This will take you to the PASE command prompt, where you can run Git commands.
Step 2: Navigate to the Git Repository
Navigate to the directory where you have initialized your Git repository. This is typically the directory where your IBM i application source code is located. You can use the cd
command to change directories, for example:
Step 3: Switch to the Target Branch
Before you can merge changes, you need to switch to the branch that will receive the changes. This is typically the main or master branch. Use the git checkout
command to switch to the target branch:
Step 4: Merge the Source Branch
Now that you're on the target branch, you can merge the changes from the source branch using the git merge
command:
This will integrate the changes from the "feature/new-functionality" branch into the current (main) branch.
Step 5: Resolve Conflicts (if any)
If there are any conflicts between the changes in the two branches, Git will pause the merge process and ask you to resolve them manually. You can do this by editing the conflicting files, choosing which changes to keep, and then staging the resolved conflicts.
Once you've resolved the conflicts, you can continue the merge process by running:
This will complete the merge and create a new commit with the combined changes.
Step 6: Verify the Merge
After the merge is complete, you can use the git log
command to view the commit history and ensure that the changes from the source branch have been properly integrated into the target branch.
This will display the commit history in a graphical format, showing the branching and merging of the repository.
Conclusion
Merging Git branches is a crucial skill for IBM i developers working in a collaborative environment. By following these steps, you can effectively integrate changes from one branch into another, ensuring a smooth and organized development workflow for your IBM i applications.