Introduction:
Migrating Git repositories can be a crucial task, especially when transitioning from one hosting provider to another or restructuring your project. In this guide, we'll walk through a step-by-step process for migrating a repository from one Git link to another using practical examples.
Step 1: Clone the Source Repository
bashgit clone --bare <SOURCE_REPO_LINK>
The --bare
flag ensures that you create a bare clone of the source repository, including all branches and commit history.
Step 2: Clone the Destination Repository
bashgit clone https://<USERNAME>@<DESTINATION_REPO_LINK>
cd <DESTINATION_REPO_NAME>
Navigate to the destination repository after cloning it.
Step 3: Checkout and Prepare the Destination Branch
bashgit checkout <DESTINATION_BRANCH_NAME>
Switch to the branch where you want to merge the source repository changes.
Step 4: Add Remote for Source Repository
bashgit remote add source-repo /path/to/source/repo.git
Add a remote reference to the source repository.
Step 5: Fetch Changes from Source Repository
bashgit fetch --all
Fetch all branches and changes from the source repository.
Step 6: Merge Source Repository Changes
bashgit merge source-repo/<SOURCE_BRANCH_NAME>
Merge the changes from the source repository into the destination branch.
Step 7: Push Changes to the Destination Repository
bashgit push origin <DESTINATION_BRANCH_NAME>
Push the merged changes to the destination repository.
Step 8: Repeat for Master Branch
bashgit checkout master
git fetch --all
git merge source-repo/master
git push origin master
Repeat the process for the master branch.
Conclusion:
Migrating Git repositories involves careful coordination between the source and destination repositories. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can ensure a smooth migration process while preserving commit history and branches. Always make sure to backup your repositories before initiating any migration to avoid data loss.