Synchronizing a local Git repository with a remote one

Question

I want to synchronize my local repository with a remote one so that my local repository becomes a 100% copy of the remote one - meaning that if certain files differ in these

Answer 1

These steps will do it:

git reset --hard HEAD
git clean -f -x -d -n

then without -n

This will take care of all local changes. Now the commits...

git status

and note the line such as:

Your branch is ahead of 'xxxx' by N commits.

Take a note of number 'N' now:

git reset --hard HEAD~N
git pull

and finally:

git status

should show nothing to add/commit. All clean.

However, a fresh clone can do the same (but is much slow).

===Updated===

As my git knowledge slightly improved over the the time, I have come up with yet another simpler way to do the same. Here is how (#with explanation). While in your working branch:

git fetch # This updates 'remote' portion of local repo. 
git reset --hard origin/<your-working-branch>
# this will sync your local copy with remote content, discarding any committed
# or uncommitted changes.

Although your local commits and changes will disappear from sight after this, it is possible to recover committed changes, if necessary.

Answer 2

The permanent fix if one wants to create a new branch on the remote to mirror and track your local branch(or, vice-versa) is:

git config --global push.default current

I always configure my local git with this command after I do git clone. Although it can be applied anytime when the local-remote branch "Git fatal: The current branch has no upstream branch" error occurs.

Hope this helps. Much peace. :)

Answer 3

You want to do

git fetch --prune origin
git reset --hard origin/master
git clean -f -d

This makes your local repo exactly like your remote repo.

Remember to replace origin and master with the remote and branch that you want to synchronize with.

Answer 4

Reset and sync local repository with remote branch

The command: Remember to replace origin and master with the remote and branch that you want to synchronize with.

git fetch origin && git reset --hard origin/master && git clean -f -d

Or step-by-step:

git fetch origin
git reset --hard origin/master
git clean -f -d

Your local branch is now an exact copy (commits and all) of the remote branch.

Command output:

Here is an example of running the command on a local clone of the Forge a git repository.

sharkbook:forge lbaxter$ git fetch origin && git reset --hard origin/master && git clean -f -d
HEAD is now at 356cd85 FORGE-680
Removing forge-example-plugin/
Removing plugin-container-api/
Removing plugin-container/
Removing shell/.forge_settings
sharkbook:forge lbaxter$