75 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
75 lines
3.2 KiB
Markdown
---
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stage: Create
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group: Source Code
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info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
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type: reference, concepts
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---
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# Fast-forward merge requests **(FREE)**
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Sometimes, a workflow policy might mandate a clean commit history without
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merge commits. In such cases, the fast-forward merge is the perfect candidate.
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With fast-forward merge requests, you can retain a linear Git history and a way
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to accept merge requests without creating merge commits.
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When the fast-forward merge
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([`--ff-only`](https://git-scm.com/docs/git-merge#git-merge---ff-only)) setting
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is enabled, no merge commits are created and all merges are fast-forwarded,
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which means that merging is only allowed if the branch can be fast-forwarded.
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When a fast-forward merge is not possible, the user is given the option to rebase.
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NOTE:
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Projects using the fast-forward merge strategy can't filter merge requests
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[by deployment date](../../search/index.md#filtering-merge-requests-by-environment-or-deployment-date),
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because no merge commit is created.
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## Enabling fast-forward merges
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1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
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1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > General**.
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1. Expand **Merge requests**.
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1. In the **Merge method** section, select **Fast-forward merge**.
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1. Select **Save changes**.
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Now, when you visit the merge request page, you can accept it
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**only if a fast-forward merge is possible**.
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![Fast forward merge request](img/ff_merge_mr.png)
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If a fast-forward merge is not possible but a conflict free rebase is possible,
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a rebase button is offered.
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You can also rebase without running a CI/CD pipeline.
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[Introduced in](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/118825) GitLab 14.7.
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The rebase action is also available as a [quick action command: `/rebase`](../../../topics/git/git_rebase.md#rebase-from-the-gitlab-ui).
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![Fast forward merge request](img/ff_merge_rebase_v14_9.png)
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If the target branch is ahead of the source branch and a conflict free rebase is
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not possible, you need to rebase the
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source branch locally before you can do a fast-forward merge.
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![Fast forward merge rebase locally](img/ff_merge_rebase_locally.png)
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## Fast-forward merges prevent squashing commits
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If your project has enabled fast-forward merges, to merge cleanly, the code in a
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merge request cannot use [squashing during merge](squash_and_merge.md). Squashing
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is available only when accepting a merge request. Rebasing may be required before
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squashing, even though squashing can itself be considered equivalent to rebasing.
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<!-- ## Troubleshooting
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Include any troubleshooting steps that you can foresee. If you know beforehand what issues
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one might have when setting this up, or when something is changed, or on upgrading, it's
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important to describe those, too. Think of things that may go wrong and include them here.
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This is important to minimize requests for support, and to avoid doc comments with
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questions that you know someone might ask.
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Each scenario can be a third-level heading, e.g. `### Getting error message X`.
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If you have none to add when creating a doc, leave this section in place
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but commented out to help encourage others to add to it in the future. -->
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