“git-apply” is a command in Git that allows you to apply a patch to files and/or to the index. It is commonly used to apply changes or modifications captured in a patch file to the corresponding files in a Git repository.
Here are some key points about “git-apply”:
- Patch Application: “git-apply” is used to apply patch files, which contain a series of changes or modifications to one or more files. Patch files are typically created using the “git diff” command or generated by other tools. The “git-apply” command takes the patch file as input and applies the changes specified in the patch to the relevant files in the repository.
- File-Level and Index-Level Application: “git-apply” provides flexibility in how the patch is applied. You can choose to apply the changes directly to the files in your working directory or apply them to the index (staging area) for further review and potential modification before committing the changes.
- Patch Formats: “git-apply” supports various patch formats, including unified diff format (the default format generated by “git diff”), context diff format, and others. This flexibility allows you to apply patches generated by different tools or in different formats.
- Applying Multiple Patches: You can apply multiple patches sequentially using “git-apply” by providing multiple patch files as arguments. The patches will be applied in the order specified, allowing you to combine multiple sets of changes into a single application step.
- Dry Run: To preview the changes that would be applied without actually modifying the files or the index, you can use the “–check” option with “git-apply”. This can be useful to review the impact of the patch before committing the changes.
- Reversing Changes: In addition to applying patches, “git-apply” can also reverse changes introduced by a patch. By using the “–reverse” option, you can undo the modifications made by a patch, effectively reverting the changes.
“git-apply” is a versatile command that allows you to apply patches to files and/or the index, making it a useful tool for incorporating changes captured in patch files into your Git repository. Whether you need to apply a single patch or a series of patches, “git-apply” provides the necessary functionality to apply changes accurately and efficiently.
git apply Command Examples
1. Print messages about the patched files:
# git apply --verbose /path/to/file
2. Apply and add the patched files to the index:
# git apply --index /path/to/file
3. Apply a remote patch file:
# curl https://example.com/file.patch | git apply
4. Output diffstat for the input and apply the patch:
# git apply --stat --apply /path/to/file
5. Apply the patch in reverse:
# git apply --reverse /path/to/file
6. Store the patch result in the index without modifying the working tree:
# git apply --cache /path/to/file