#TIL 2 - Create and apply git patch from a commit hash | ProductsWay
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GitTIL

#TIL 2 - Create and apply git patch from a commit hash

Aug 12, 2020 · Dung Huynh

What

Export a single commit as a .patch file with git format-patch, then apply it on another branch with git am.

Why

Cherry-pick rewrites the commit hash and can conflict when the target branch diverged. A patch file carries the full diff plus the original commit message, so you can port one change to a fork, a release branch, or a teammate's repo without merging entire histories.

How

git checkout master
git format-patch -1 COMMIT_HASH
git checkout WORKING_BRANCH
git am FILE_PATH
  • format-patch -1: creates patch file for single commit
  • am: applies patch file (commit message preserved)