How to Resolve Git Stash Pop Conflicts: A Step-by-Step Guide

When using Git, it's not uncommon for conflicts to arise during the process of merging changes. One such conflict that can occur is a Git stash pop conflict, which happens when there are changes in both the local working tree and the stash entry. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what causes these conflicts, how to resolve them, and how to clean up the stash history so it appears as if the conflict never occurred.

The First Commit

Let's start with an example of how a Git stash pop conflict can occur. Suppose you have initialized a new Git repository and created a file called `stash-pop-conflict.html`. You then add this file to the index using the `git add` command. At this point, your repository has one commit with the message 'First commit'.

Causing the Conflict

To create a Git stash pop conflict, you'll need to use the `git stash` command to temporarily store away some changes and then try to apply those changes later. Here's an example of how to do this:

1. Initialize a Git repository

2. Create a new file called `stash-pop-conflict.html`

3. Add the file to the index using `git add`

4. Run `git stash` to temporarily store away some changes

5. Try to apply those changes later by running `git stash pop`

Resolving the Conflict

When you run `git stash pop`, Git will attempt to merge the changes from the stash entry with your local working tree. If there are any conflicts, Git will populate the conflicted files with content from both the local working tree and the stash. This means that instead of overwriting the contents of the files in the local working tree with the stash entry, Git will create a new file that contains the conflicting changes.

To resolve this conflict, you'll need to manually merge and resolve problems by editing the file by hand. Unfortunately, there's no magic remedy for such merge conflicts - you'll simply have to edit the file and keep what you want and dispose of what you don't want.

Cleaning Up the Stash History

Once you've resolved the conflict, you'll need to manually add the updated file to the index using `git add`. This will stage the updated file in preparation for the next commit. After that, you can use `git stash drop` to restore the state of your development environment to where it would be if the conflict never occurred.

Unfortunately, when a Git stash pop conflict resolves, the merged file isn't staged automatically. You'll need to manually add it to the index using `git add`. Additionally, the stash entry is kept in case you need it again later.

In this article, we've explored how to resolve Git stash pop conflicts and clean up the stash history so it appears as if the conflict never occurred. By understanding what causes these conflicts and taking the necessary steps to resolve them, you'll be able to work more effectively with Git and avoid common pitfalls that can arise during the development process.

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