When working with a forked repository on GitHub, it’s essential to keep it up-to-date with the changes made to the original repository. This ensures that you have the latest improvements, bug fixes, and features. In this article, we will explore the steps to update a forked repo from the original GitHub.
Step 1: Add the Original Repository as a Remote
The first step is to add the original repository as a remote to your forked repository. This allows you to fetch the latest changes from the upstream repository and merge them into your forked repository. To add the original repository as a remote, open your terminal and navigate to the directory of your local forked repository.
git remote add upstream
Step 2: Fetch the Latest Changes
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Once you have added the original repository as a remote, you can fetch the latest changes from it. This will download all the new commits made to the original repository since you forked it. To fetch the latest changes, run the following command:
git fetch upstream
Step 3: Merge the Changes into Your Forked Repository
After fetching the latest changes, you need to merge them into your forked repository. This will combine the changes from the original repository with your existing code. To merge the changes, run the following command:
git merge upstream/master
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By following these simple steps, you can easily update your forked repository from the original GitHub. Keeping your forked repository up-to-date ensures that you have the latest changes, bug fixes, and improvements from the original repository, allowing you to work with the most recent codebase.
Easy Steps
- Open your terminal or command prompt.
- Navigate to the local repository that is the clone of your forked repository.
- Check the current configured remote repository for your branch using the following command:
git remote -v - Add the original repository as a new remote repository using the following command:
git remote add upstream - Verify the new upstream repository using the following command:
git remote -v - Fetch the branches and commits from the upstream repository using the following command:
git fetch upstream - Switch to the local master branch of your forked repository:
git checkout master - Merge the changes from the upstream repository’s master branch into your local master branch:
git merge upstream/master - Push the updated changes to your forked repository on GitHub:
git push origin master
Why Updating Forked Repo is Important
Updating your forked repository from the original GitHub repository is important for several reasons:
1. Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest Changes:
By updating your forked repo, you can incorporate the latest changes made by the original GitHub repository. This ensures that you have access to the most recent bug fixes, security patches, and new features. Without updating, your forked repo might become outdated and incompatible with the original repository.
2. Collaborate Effectively:
If you are working on a project with other contributors, updating your forked repo is crucial for effective collaboration. It allows you to incorporate their changes and contributions into your forked repo, making it easier to merge and resolve conflicts. Without regular updates, you might face difficulties in synchronizing your work with the rest of the team.
3. Contribute to the Original Project:
Updating your forked repo enables you to contribute back to the original GitHub repository. If you have fixed a bug or implemented a useful feature in your forked repo, syncing with the original repository allows you to submit a pull request and share your work with the project maintainers. Keeping your forked repo up-to-date is essential for contributing back to the open-source community.
4. Learn from the Source:
Regularly updating your forked repo gives you the opportunity to learn from the original GitHub repository. By studying the changes made by the project maintainers, you can improve your coding skills and stay updated with the industry’s best practices. It also allows you to understand how the project evolves and adapts over time.
Overall, updating your forked repository from the original GitHub repository ensures that you have access to the latest changes, collaborate effectively with other contributors, contribute back to the original project, and learn from the source. It is an important practice for maintaining an active and synchronized forked repository.
Step-by-Step Guide
Note: Ensure that you have Git installed on your local machine before proceeding with the following steps.
Step 1: Open Terminal or command prompt on your local machine.
Step 2: Navigate to the local repository of your forked project using the cd command.
Step 3: Add the original repository as a remote. You can do this by running the following command:
git remote add upstream [original repository URL]For example:
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-repo-owner/original-repo.gitStep 4: Fetch the latest changes from the original repository using the following command:
git fetch upstreamStep 5: Switch to the branch you want to update by running the command:
git checkout [branch name]Step 6: Merge the changes from the original repository into your local branch using the following command:
git merge upstream/[branch name]Step 7: Resolve any merge conflicts that may arise. Refer to Git documentation for instructions on how to resolve conflicts.
Step 8: Commit the changes to your local branch using the command:
git commit -m "Updated fork with latest changes"Step 9: Push the changes to your forked repository on GitHub using the command:
git push origin [branch name]Step 10: Verify that your forked repository has been updated with the latest changes from the original repository.
Congratulations! You have successfully updated your forked repository from the original GitHub repository.
Step 1: Sync your Forked Repo
It’s important to keep your forked repo updated with the changes in the original repo. This ensures that you have the latest features, bug fixes, and improvements in your own forked copy of the repository.
To sync your forked repo with the original repo, follow these steps:
-
Clone your forked repo to your local machine:
Use the following command in your terminal or Git Bash:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-forked-repo.git -
Change into the directory of your forked repo:
Use the following command:
cd your-forked-repo -
Add the original repo as a remote:
Use the following command to add the original repo as a remote repository:
git remote add upstream https://github.com/original-username/original-repo.git -
Fetch the latest changes from the original repo:
Use the following command to fetch the latest changes from the original repo:
git fetch upstream -
Merge the changes from the original repo:
Use the following command to merge the changes from the original repo into your local fork:
git merge upstream/master -
Push the updates to your forked repo on GitHub:
Use the following command to push the updates to your forked repo:
git push origin master
By following these steps, you have successfully synced your forked repo with the original repo. You can now enjoy all the latest changes and improvements in your own forked copy of the repository.
Step 2: Add Original Repo as Remote
Adding the original repository as a remote is necessary in order to keep your forked repository up-to-date with any changes made to the original repository. By adding the original repository as a remote, you will be able to fetch and merge any updates that have been made.
Instructions:
- Open your forked repository on GitHub.
- Copy the URL of the original repository that you want to fork from.
- On your local machine, open your terminal or command prompt.
- Navigate to the local directory of your forked repository using the
cdcommand. - Use the following command to add the original repository as a remote:
| Command: | Description: |
|---|---|
git remote add upstream [original repository URL] |
Adds the original repository as a remote with the name “upstream”. |
Once you have added the original repository as a remote, you can use the git remote -v command to verify that the remote has been added successfully.
Step 3: Fetch and Merge Changes
After you have added the remote upstream repository to your forked repository, it’s time to fetch the changes made in the original repository and merge them into your local branch.
First, open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to your local repository folder.
Next, use the following command to fetch the changes from the upstream repository:
git fetch upstream |
This command retrieves any changes made in the upstream repository since you forked it.
Now, you need to merge these changes into your local branch. Use the following command:
git merge upstream/master |
This command merges the changes from the upstream repository’s master branch into your current branch. If there are any conflicts, you will need to resolve them manually.
Finally, push the merged changes to your forked repository on GitHub using the following command:
git push origin master |
Now your forked repository is up to date with the changes made in the original repository.
