Understanding Merge Conflicts

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 61 views

Introduction

Git is a powerful version control system that helps developers manage changes to their codebase. However, when working with multiple branches, conflicts can arise, making it challenging to merge changes. In this article, we will explore how to resolve merge conflicts in Git, using the example of a failed merge on the release-4.1 branch.

Understanding Merge Conflicts

A merge conflict occurs when two or more developers make changes to the same file or codebase, resulting in conflicting versions. Git detects these conflicts and prevents the merge from completing, requiring manual intervention to resolve the issue.

The Scenario: Failed Merge on `release-4.1` Branch

We are working on the release-4.1 branch and attempting to apply a patch from a different branch. The patch introduces a new feature, but the merge process fails due to conflicts in several files.

#6399 failed to apply on top of branch "release-4.1":

Analyzing the Conflict

Let's examine the conflict in more detail:

Applying: add extension version controller
Using index info to reconstruct a base tree...
M	config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/extensions.kubesphere.io_jsbundles.yaml
M	config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/kubesphere.io_repositories.yaml
M	pkg/controller/core/installplan_controller.go
M	pkg/controller/core/repository_controller.go
M	pkg/controller/core/util.go
M	staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/core/v1alpha1/repository_types.go
M	staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/core/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
M	staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/extensions/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
M	staging/src/kubesphere.io/utils/go.mod
Falling back to patching base and 3-way merge...
Auto-merging staging/src/kubesphere.io/utils/go.mod
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in staging/src/kubesphere.io/utils/go.mod
Auto-merging staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/extensions/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
Auto-merging staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/core/v1alpha1/zz_generated.deepcopy.go
Auto-merging staging/src/kubesphere.io/api/core/v1alpha1/repository_types.go
Auto-merging pkg/controller/core/util.go
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in pkg/controller/core/util.go
Auto-merging pkg/controller/core/repository_controller.go
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in pkg/controller/core/repository_controller.go
Auto-merging pkg/controller/core/installplan_controller.go
Auto-merging config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/kubesphere.io_repositories.yaml
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/kubesphere.io_repositories.yaml
Auto-merging config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/extensions.kubesphere.io_jsbundles.yaml
CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/extensions.kubesphere.io_jsbundles.yaml
error: Failed to merge in the changes.
hint: Use 'git am --show-current-patch=diff' to see the failed patch
Patch failed at 0001 add extension version controller
When you have resolved this problem, run "git am --continue".
If you prefer to skip this patch, run "git am --skip" instead.
To restore the original branch and stop patching, run "git am --abort".

Resolving the Conflict

To resolve the conflict, we need to:

Stop the merge process: Run git am --abort to restore the original branch and stop the patching process.
Examine the conflict: Use git am --show-current-patch=diff to see the failed patch and understand the conflict.
Resolve the conflict: Manually edit the conflicting files to resolve the issue.
Continue the merge process: Run git am --continue to resume the merge process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Resolving the Conflict

Step 1: Stop the Merge Process

Run git am --abort to restore the original branch and stop the patching process.

git am --abort

Step 2: Examine the Conflict

Use git am --show-current-patch=diff to see the failed patch and understand the conflict.

git am --show-current-patch=diff

Step 3: Resolve the Conflict

Manually edit the conflicting files to resolve the issue. In this case, we need to resolve the conflicts in staging/src/kubesphere.io/utils/go.mod, pkg/controller/core/util.go, pkg/controller/core/repository_controller.go, config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/kubesphere.io_repositories.yaml, and config/ks-core/charts/ks-crds/crds/extensions.kubesphere.io_jsbundles.yaml.

Step 4: Continue the Merge Process

Run git am --continue to resume the merge process.

git am --continue

Conclusion

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored how to resolve merge conflicts in Git using a step-by-step guide. However, sometimes it's easier to understand a concept by asking questions and getting answers. In this article, we'll provide a Q&A guide to help you resolve merge conflicts in Git.

Q: What is a merge conflict in Git?

A: A merge conflict in Git occurs when two or more developers make changes to the same file or codebase, resulting in conflicting versions. Git detects these conflicts and prevents the merge from completing, requiring manual intervention to resolve the issue.

Q: Why do merge conflicts happen?

A: Merge conflicts happen when multiple developers work on the same codebase simultaneously, making changes to the same file or codebase. This can lead to conflicting versions, which Git detects and prevents from being merged.

Q: How do I identify a merge conflict in Git?

A: You can identify a merge conflict in Git by looking for the following signs:

A conflict message indicating that a merge conflict has occurred
A file with conflicting changes, marked with conflict markers (<<<<<<<, =======, and >>>>>>>)
A Git error message indicating that the merge has failed

Q: How do I stop the merge process in Git?

A: To stop the merge process in Git, run the following command:

git am --abort

This will restore the original branch and stop the patching process.

Q: How do I examine the conflict in Git?

A: To examine the conflict in Git, run the following command:

git am --show-current-patch=diff

This will display the failed patch and help you understand the conflict.

Q: How do I resolve a merge conflict in Git?

A: To resolve a merge conflict in Git, follow these steps:

Stop the merge process: Run git am --abort to restore the original branch and stop the patching process.
Examine the conflict: Use git am --show-current-patch=diff to see the failed patch and understand the conflict.
Resolve the conflict: Manually edit the conflicting files to resolve the issue.
Continue the merge process: Run git am --continue to resume the merge process.

Q: What if I want to skip the patch in Git?

A: If you want to skip the patch in Git, run the following command:

git am --skip

This will skip the current patch and continue with the next one.

Q: What if I want to restore the original branch in Git?

A: If you want to restore the original branch in Git, run the following command:

git am --abort

This will restore the original branch and stop the patching process.

Conclusion

Resolving merge conflicts in Git can be challenging, but with the right tools and knowledge, you can successfully resolve conflicts and complete the merge. Remember to always use git am --abort to restore the original branch and stop the patching process, and git am --continue to resume the merge process.