Merging git branches on IBM i

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:

call qp2term

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:

cd /home/myuser/myapp

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:

git checkout main

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:

git merge feature/new-functionality

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:

git commit

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.

git log --graph --oneline

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.

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