Migrating Git Repositories: A Step-by-Step Guide

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

bash
git 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

bash
    git 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

bash
git checkout <DESTINATION_BRANCH_NAME>

Switch to the branch where you want to merge the source repository changes.

Step 4: Add Remote for Source Repository

bash
git remote add source-repo /path/to/source/repo.git

Add a remote reference to the source repository.

Step 5: Fetch Changes from Source Repository

bash
git fetch --all

Fetch all branches and changes from the source repository.

Step 6: Merge Source Repository Changes

bash
git 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

bash
git push origin <DESTINATION_BRANCH_NAME>

Push the merged changes to the destination repository.

Step 8: Repeat for Master Branch

bash
  git 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.