Git Interactive Rebase - AI-Optimized Technical Reference

Core Technology Overview

Interactive rebase (git rebase -i) is a Git command for rewriting commit history by replaying commits with modifications. It creates entirely new commit objects with new SHA-1 hashes, even for untouched commits, because parent commit references change.

Critical Configuration Requirements

Editor Configuration (High Priority)

# Essential setup to avoid vim nightmare
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"  # VS Code
git config --global core.editor nano           # Terminal alternative

Failure Mode: Default editor is often vim - developers unfamiliar with vim become trapped in editor during rebase process.

Escape Sequence: Press Esc, type :wq (save/quit) or :q! (quit without saving)

Performance Prerequisites

• Repository Size Threshold: 10,000+ commits = 10-15 minute operations with no progress indication
• Binary File Impact: 5MB binary files cause 30-second operations to extend to 15+ minutes
• Recommended Workaround: Use Git LFS for binary assets, separate repositories for large files

Interactive Rebase Commands - Operational Matrix

Command	Function	Critical Failure Scenarios	Recovery Strategy
pick	Keep commit unchanged	Rarely fails	Safe default option
reword	Edit commit message	Opens editor again - vim trap risk	Configure proper editor first
edit	Pause rebase for manual changes	Developers forget mid-rebase state for days	git rebase --continue or --abort
squash	Combine commits, keep all messages	Creates unreadable 500+ line commit messages	Delete concatenated messages, keep only meaningful content
fixup	Combine commits, discard message	Accidentally fixup wrong commit	Use git reflog + git reset --hard to recover
drop	Delete commit entirely	Drop commit containing critical bug fix	git reflog to find SHA, git cherry-pick to restore
exec	Execute command during rebase	Command failure aborts entire rebase at commit 47/50	Fix issue, git add ., git rebase --continue

Production-Critical Constraints

The Golden Rule - Shared Repository Safety

Never rebase commits already pushed to shared repositories

Violation Consequences:

• Force push required (git push --force)
• All team members' local branches become desynchronized
• Requires manual intervention from every team member
• Production deployment disruption risk

Safe Alternative: Use merge commits for shared branches, accept "messy" history

Hotfix Protocol

Never use interactive rebase for production hotfixes

Risk Assessment:

• Accidentally dropping dependency commits
• Authentication/security fixes inadvertently removed
• Production downtime while debugging "unrelated" failures

Correct Approach: Use git cherry-pick for exact commit deployment

Resource Requirements and Time Investment

Small Operations (1-5 commits)

• Time: 2-5 minutes
• Skill Level: Beginner with proper editor configuration
• Risk Level: Low

Medium Operations (5-20 commits)

• Time: 15-30 minutes
• Skill Level: Intermediate
• Risk Level: Medium - conflict resolution required
• Prerequisites: Understanding of merge conflict resolution

Large Operations (20+ commits)

• Time: 1-5 hours
• Skill Level: Advanced
• Risk Level: High
• Failure Rate: ~40% require abort and merge commit fallback
• Team Impact: Significant if performed on shared branches

Common Failure Scenarios and Solutions

Multi-Hour Conflict Resolution Loop

Trigger: Rebasing 30+ commits on divergent feature branch
Symptoms: Same conflicts repeated 15+ times across similar file modifications
Break Condition: Consider git rebase --abort after 2+ hours
Alternative: Use merge commit instead of rebase

Binary File Performance Degradation

Trigger: Binary files (images, compiled assets) in commit history
Impact: 30-second operations become 15+ minute operations
Solution: Separate binary assets into different repository or Git LFS

Detached HEAD Confusion

Normal Behavior: Temporary state during rebase operation
Incorrect Response: Attempting to "fix" detached HEAD state
Correct Response: Allow rebase to complete or abort cleanly

Emergency Recovery Procedures

Complete Rebase Disaster Recovery

git reflog                                    # Find pre-rebase state
git reflog --since="2 hours ago"            # Filter by time
git reset --hard HEAD@{15}                  # Reset to specific reflog entry

Mid-Rebase Abort

git rebase --abort                          # Safe cancellation
git status                                  # Verify clean state

Lost Commit Recovery

git reflog                                  # Find lost commit SHA
git cherry-pick <commit-sha>               # Restore specific commit

Team Cleanup After Force Push

git branch -D feature-branch               # Delete local branch
git fetch origin                          # Re-fetch from remote
git checkout feature-branch               # Recreate from remote

Autosquash Feature Analysis

Configuration

git commit --fixup <sha>                   # Create fixup commit
git rebase -i --autosquash HEAD~5         # Auto-organize fixups

Effectiveness Assessment

• Time Savings: ~30 seconds of manual organization
• Complexity Handling: Fails with multiple fixups per commit
• Conflict Resolution: Still requires manual intervention
• Overall Value: Marginal improvement, not revolutionary

Production Integration Guidelines

Safe Team Workflows

1. Feature Branch Protocol: Rebase only personal, unpushed branches
2. Pre-Merge Cleanup: Interactive rebase before initial push to shared repository
3. Hotfix Isolation: Use cherry-pick for production deployments
4. Conflict Avoidance: Prefer frequent small rebases over large batch operations

Performance Optimization

• Repository Structure: Separate code and binary assets
• Batch Size Limits: Keep rebases under 20 commits when possible
• Team Coordination: Coordinate large rebases during low-activity periods

Tool Integration and Alternatives

GUI Alternatives for Complex Operations

• GitKraken: Visual interactive rebase interface
• Sourcetree: Reduces command-line error probability
• VS Code Git Integration: Built-in rebase management

Command Line Enhancements

• Tig: Terminal-based Git visualization
• Custom Aliases: Reduce command complexity and typos

Troubleshooting Decision Tree

1. Operation Taking > 20 minutes: Likely stuck, Ctrl+C and abort
2. Repeated Conflicts: Consider merge commit alternative after 2+ hours
3. Vim Trap: Configure proper editor immediately, use :wq or :q! for immediate escape
4. Lost Commits: Check git reflog within 90-day retention window
5. Team Synchronization Issues: Force push damage control protocol required

Success Metrics and Validation

Operation Success Indicators

• Rebase completes in expected timeframe
• No duplicate conflict resolution required
• Team members can pull changes without issues
• Test suite passes post-rebase

Failure Thresholds

• Time Limit: Abort after 2+ hours of conflict resolution
• Conflict Repetition: More than 5 identical conflicts suggests merge commit preferable
• Team Impact: Any force push to shared branch requires immediate communication

This reference prioritizes operational safety over history cleanliness, reflecting real-world development constraints and team collaboration requirements.