Hi devs, today I encountered some serious issues with my local Git repository. I was working on my project, and then all of a sudden, something happened while I was committing to my GitHub repository, my laptop went off. When I later opened my vscode IDE, I saw that I had 185 changes in the git source control. I did not work on so many files, and the last time I worked, it was on four files only meaning i suppose to have 4 changes in the source control. Having this type of error for the first time can be so terrifying, and it was there because of some corrupt files in the local Git repository due to not completing the operation.

Even though I was able to make updates on the GitHub website and send them for production, I do need to be coding locally with my vscode IDE.

Understanding the Problem

When working with Git, you might encounter various issues. In this case, after running the command "git fsck", which attempts to repair the repository, it diagnosed the Git errors to be:

⦁ error: invalid HEAD

⦁ error: bad ref for .git/logs/HEAD

⦁ error: bad ref for .git/logs/refs/heads/main

⦁ fatal: cannot lock ref 'HEAD': unable to resolve reference 'refs/heads/main': reference broken

These types of errors often arise when there is a disruption during Git operations, such as committing changes or performing a rebase. An unexpected shutdown due to power failure can leave your Git repository in a corrupted state. These errors can be particularly frustrating, but with the right approach, you can get your repository back to a stable state.

Steps I Took to Fix The Error

Note that there are other, possibly better, ways to fix this type of error. However, I am sharing how I was able to fix mine.

1. Backup Your Repository: First and foremost, you must backup your repository to ensure you don't lose your code. If anything goes wrong, you can easily restore your code from the backup.

2. Create a New Folder and Initialize Git: Create a new folder and initialize a new Git repository in that folder. You can do this by running the following command:

 git init

3. Add Remote Origin: After initializing the new Git repository, add the remote origin of your original project, which is experiencing the error. Use the following command:

 git remote add origin https://github.com/Github-user/project-name 

4. Pull the Project: Pull the entire project into the new folder by running this command:

 git pull origin main

This will immediately restore all your project files in the new folder.

5. Install Dependencies: Run npm install to install all the dependencies in the project. Don’t forget to add files like .env and other files listed in .gitignore from the other project.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will be able to sort out the problem you encountered in your project. This method allows you to quickly resolve Git errors, ensuring that you can make changes to your code and commit them to the original repository without any issues. Remember, backing up your repository is crucial to avoid data loss and maintain a stable workflow. Happy coding!