From: Oleg Broytman <phd@phdru.name>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2015 19:09:41 +0000 (+0300)
Subject: Explain git reflog
X-Git-Url: https://git.phdru.name/?p=git-wiki.git;a=commitdiff_plain;h=57df7facf669882b7c8402ba53e48aa605654e9b

Explain git reflog
---

diff --git a/pep-git.txt b/pep-git.txt
index 402dac8..a8be119 100644
--- a/pep-git.txt
+++ b/pep-git.txt
@@ -440,6 +440,33 @@ about unstaging and other undo tricks.
 git reflog: reference log
 -------------------------
 
+Removing commits with ``git reset`` or moving the head of a branch
+sounds dangerous and it is. But there is a way to undo: another
+reset back to the original commit. Git doesn't remove commits
+immediately; unreferenced commits (in git terminology they are called
+"dangling commits") stay in the database for some time (default is two
+weeks) so you can reset back to it or create a new branch pointing to
+the original commit.
+
+For every move of a branch's head - with ``git commit``, ``git
+checkout``, ``git fetch``, ``git pull``, ``git rebase``, ``git reset``
+and so on - git stores a reference log (reflog for short). For every
+move git stores where the head was. Command ``git reflog`` can be used
+to view (and manipulate) the log.
+
+In addition to the moves of the head of every branch git stores the
+moves of the HEAD - a symbolic reference that (usually) names the
+current branch. HEAD is changed with ``git checkout $BRANCH``.
+
+By default ``git reflog`` shows the moves of the HEAD, i.e. the
+command is equivalent to ``git reflog HEAD``. To show the moves of the
+head of a branch use the command ``git reflog $BRANCH``.
+
+So to undo a ``git reset`` lookup the original commit in ``git
+reflog``, verify it with ``git show`` or ``git log`` and run ``git
+reset $COMMIT_ID``. Git stores the move of the branch's head in
+reflog, so you can undo that undo later again.
+
 git revert: revert a commit
 ---------------------------