Deleting the First Git Commit and Resolving Rebase Issues

Introduction

Deleting the first commit in a Git repository and handling rebase issues can be tricky, especially when you end up in a situation where Git refuses to move back to a previous state. In this blog, we will address common scenarios related to deleting the first commit and resolving errors that occur during a rebase.

Why Is Deleting the First Commit Challenging?

The first commit in a Git repository is a unique entity. Since it’s the initial commit, there is no previous commit to revert to. Consequently, commands like git reset --hard HEAD~1 or git reset --hard HEAD^ result in errors like:

fatal: ambiguous argument 'HEAD~1': unknown revision or path not in the working tree.

This happens because Git cannot find a previous commit from which to reset. In this case, it’s essential to handle the situation differently.

Deleting the Only Commit from a Branch

If you have just one commit and want to delete it completely, follow these steps:

Step 1: Navigate to Your Branch

git checkout master

Step 2: Delete the Commit

To completely remove the commit, use:

git update-ref -d HEAD

Step 3: Clean Up Untracked Files (if needed)

git clean -fdx

Step 4: Push the Changes

git push origin master --force

This will clear the commit history, giving you a clean branch.

Resolving Git Rebase Errors

Sometimes, while trying to delete or modify commits, you might end up in a rebase state. A common error message is:

On branch main
No commands done.
Next command to do (1 remaining command):
   noop

This means your branch is stuck in a rebase, often because it was not completed or aborted correctly.

Option 1: Complete the Rebase

git rebase --continue

Option 2: Abort the Rebase

git rebase --abort

Once completed or aborted, you can check the branch status again:

git status

Starting Fresh After Deleting Commits

Once your branch is clean and the unwanted commit is gone, you can create a new initial commit:

git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit after cleanup"
git push origin master --force

Conclusion

Deleting the first commit in Git can be tricky due to the lack of previous history. Understanding how to properly reset or update the branch is crucial to avoiding errors. Additionally, being familiar with rebase continuation and abort commands can help when your branch gets stuck. By following the steps outlined here, you can confidently manage your Git history without losing essential work.