How to merge master into forked repo

October 7, 2020

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When working with a forked repository, it is important to keep your code up to date with the changes made in the original repository’s master branch. This ensures that your forked repository remains compatible with the latest updates and fixes.

Merging the master branch of the original repository into your forked repository can be done using a few simple steps. First, you will need to navigate to your forked repository’s page on GitHub and copy the repository’s URL. Next, open your command line interface and navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository. Once you are in the correct directory, use the command “git clone [repository URL]” to clone the repository onto your local machine.

After the repository has been cloned, navigate to the repository’s directory using the command line. Once inside, execute the command “git remote add upstream [original repository’s URL]”, where [original repository’s URL] is the URL of the original repository. This will add the original repository as a remote upstream repository.

To fetch the latest changes from the upstream repository, use the command “git fetch upstream”. This will download the latest commits and changes made in the upstream repository. Next, use the command “git checkout master” to switch to the master branch. Finally, use the command “git merge upstream/master” to merge the changes from the upstream repository’s master branch into your forked repository’s master branch. Once the merge is complete, your forked repository will be up to date with the latest changes made in the original repository.

Merging the master branch of the original repository into your forked repository is an important step in maintaining compatibility with the original repository. By following these simple steps, you can easily keep your forked repository up to date with the latest changes and updates.

Understanding the Forked Repository

A forked repository is a separate copy of a repository that has been created in a user’s personal GitHub account. When a user forks a repository, they create their own instance of it, which can be modified and updated independently from the original repository.

Here are some key points to understand about forked repositories:

Ownership	A forked repository is owned by the user who created it. This means that the user has full control over the fork and its settings.
Link to original repository	A forked repository is linked to the original repository it was created from. This allows the user to keep track of the changes made in the original repository and easily merge those changes into their fork later on.
Independence	A forked repository is independent of the original repository. This means that any modifications or updates made in the fork will not affect the original repository unless they are explicitly merged back into it.
Pull requests	Users can initiate pull requests from their forked repository to the original repository. This allows them to propose changes or additions to the original repository, which can be reviewed and merged by the repository owner.
Collaboration	Multiple users can fork the same repository, creating their own individual copies of it. This allows for collaboration and contribution from multiple users, each working on their own forked version.

Creating a Forked Repository

When working on an open-source project, it is often necessary to make changes to the codebase without directly modifying the original repository. This is where creating a forked repository comes in handy. A fork is a copy of a repository that allows you to freely experiment and make changes without affecting the original project.

To create a forked repository:

Visit the original repository’s page on GitHub.
Click on the “Fork” button at the top right corner of the page.
Choose the destination where you want to fork the repository to (e.g., your personal GitHub account or an organization you are a member of).
Wait for the forking process to complete. Once it’s done, you will be redirected to your forked repository.

Now, you have your own copy of the repository, which you can freely modify and experiment with. You can clone the forked repository to your local machine using Git, make changes, and push them to your forked repository. Additionally, you can create branches, collaborate with others, and even create a pull request to propose your changes to the original repository.

Remember, a forked repository is independent of the original repository. To keep your forked repository up to date with the original repository’s changes, you will need to regularly fetch and merge those changes into your forked repository.

Creating a forked repository is a crucial step when contributing to open-source projects. It allows you to work on your changes without worrying about breaking the original codebase and enables the project maintainers to review and accept your contributions easily. So go ahead and create your forked repository and start contributing!

Steps to Merge Master into Forked Repo

When you have forked a repository and made changes to your forked copy, it’s essential to keep your fork in sync with the original repository’s master branch. This ensures that you have the latest changes and allows you to contribute to the project effectively. Here are the steps to merge the master branch from the original repository into your fork.

Step 1: Clone Your Forked Repository

Start by cloning your forked repository to your local machine using Git. Open your terminal and navigate to the directory where you want to store the cloned repository. Then, run the following Git command:

git clone [your-forked-repository-url]

Replace [your-forked-repository-url] with the URL of your forked repository. This will create a local copy of your forked repository on your machine.

Step 2: Add the Original Repository as a Remote

To merge the changes from the original repository, you need to add it as a remote in your local clone. Navigate to the cloned repository’s directory in your terminal and run the following Git command:

git remote add upstream [original-repository-url]

Replace [original-repository-url] with the URL of the original repository. This adds the original repository as a remote named “upstream” to your local clone.

Step 3: Fetch the Latest Changes

Next, you need to fetch the latest changes from the original repository’s master branch. Run the following Git command:

git fetch upstream master

This fetches all the latest changes from the original repository’s master branch into your local clone. However, it doesn’t merge these changes.

Step 4: Merge the Changes

To merge the changes from the original repository’s master branch into your forked repository’s master branch, run the following Git command:

git checkout master
git merge upstream/master

The first command switches to your forked repository’s master branch, and the second command merges the changes from the original repository’s master branch into your forked repository’s master branch.

Step 5: Push the Merged Changes

Finally, push the merged changes to your forked repository on GitHub using the following Git command:

git push origin master

This pushes the merged changes to your forked repository on GitHub, keeping it in sync with the original repository’s master branch.

Now, your forked repository is up to date with the latest changes from the original repository’s master branch, allowing you to contribute and collaborate effectively.

Resolving Merge Conflicts

When merging the master branch into a forked repository, it is possible to encounter merge conflicts. Merge conflicts occur when there are conflicting changes made in different branches of the repository. Resolving these conflicts is an essential step in the merging process.

To resolve merge conflicts, follow these steps:

1. Identify the conflicted files: Git will indicate which files have conflicts during the merge. These files will have conflict markers, such as “<<<<<<< HEAD" and ">>>>>>> master”, surrounding the conflicting code.
2. Open the conflicted files: Open the conflicted files in a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) capable of resolving merge conflicts.
3. Resolve the conflicts: Review the conflicting code within the file and make the necessary changes to resolve the conflicts. This may involve choosing one version of the code over the other or manually editing the code to combine the changes from both versions.
4. Save the changes: Once the conflicts are resolved, save the changes made to the file.
5. Stage the changes: After saving the changes, stage the conflicted files with the command git add filename.
6. Commit the changes: Commit the changes with the command git commit -m "Resolved merge conflicts".
7. Push the changes: Push the changes to the forked repository with the command git push origin branch-name.

By following these steps, you can successfully resolve merge conflicts when merging the master branch into a forked repository. It is important to carefully review and validate the changes made to ensure smooth integration of the codebase.

Pushing Changes to the Remote Forked Repository

After making changes to your forked repository, it’s important to push those changes to the remote repository so that others can see and access your updates. Here are the steps to push your changes:

Open your command line interface or terminal.
Navigate to the directory where your local repository is located using the cd command.
Use the git push command followed by the name of the remote repository and the branch you want to push to. For example, if the remote repository is named “origin” and the branch is called “master”, you would use git push origin master.
Enter your GitHub username and password when prompted to authenticate the push.
Wait for the push to complete. Once it’s finished, your changes should be visible in the remote repository.

It’s important to note that if there have been updates to the remote repository since you last synced your fork, you may encounter a merge conflict. In this case, you’ll need to resolve the conflict before you can successfully push your changes. You can refer to the documentation or seek assistance from the repository owner or other collaborators to resolve any conflicts.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to push your changes to the remote forked repository and make your updates accessible to others. Remember to regularly sync your forked repository with the original repository to stay up to date with any changes.