When you sync a forked repository, the goal is to update your forked repository to match the current state of the original repository (often referred to as the “upstream” repository). Let me break it down, especially considering the scenario you described:

1. Syncing with Upstream Changes

  • When you sync, your forked repository fetches updates from the upstream repository.
  • It then integrates those updates into your fork, typically into the main or equivalent branch.

2. Merge Conflicts

  • If both your fork and the upstream repository have changes in the same files or lines, you may encounter merge conflicts.
  • Merge conflicts require manual resolution. You’ll need to decide which changes to keep—yours, upstream’s, or a combination of both.

3. How Syncing Works (Common Commands)

Here’s a typical workflow in Git:

  1. Add the upstream repository to your fork:
    git remote add upstream https://github.com/<original-owner>/<repo>.git
  2. Fetch changes from the upstream repository:
    git fetch upstream
  3. Merge upstream changes into your local fork (e.g., main branch):
    git checkout main
git merge upstream/main
  4. Push the updated branch to your remote forked repository:
    git push origin main

4. Handling Conflicts

If you’ve made changes to a file and that same file was updated in the upstream repo:

  1. During the merge step, Git will identify conflicts and pause the process.
  2. You’ll resolve the conflicts in your local repo using a text editor or Git tools.
  3. Once resolved, complete the merge and push the changes back to your remote fork.

Syncing forked repositories with upstream ensures your codebase stays up to date while providing the flexibility to integrate your modifications. Resolving merge conflicts effectively is key to maintaining a clean workflow.

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