Strange GIT error: “Working directory has unstaged changes”, while no any change in working directory

Summary

The issue presented is a “Working directory has unstaged changes” error when attempting to push commits to a GIT repository, despite the working directory being clean and having no unstaged changes. This error occurs during the push operation, specifically when using the --force-with-lease option, and is reported by the remote repository.

Root Cause

The root cause of this issue is often related to the --force-with-lease option used in the push command. This option checks if the remote branch has been updated since the last time the local branch was updated. If it has, the push is aborted to prevent overwriting changes made by others. However, in some cases, this check can fail or report incorrectly due to various reasons such as repository corruption, incorrect configuration, or issues with the Git version being used.

Why This Happens in Real Systems

This issue can occur in real systems due to a variety of reasons including but not limited to, network issues, repository corruption, or configuration problems. It might also be due to the specifics of how Git handles the --force-with-lease option, especially in environments where multiple users are pushing changes to the same branch frequently.

Real-World Impact

The real-world impact of this issue is significant as it can halt development and deployment processes. Teams relying on Git for version control and collaboration can find themselves unable to push critical updates or changes, leading to delays and potential losses.

Example or Code (if applicable!)

git push --force-with-lease --recurse-submodules=check --progress "origin" refs/heads/mybranch:refs/heads/mybranch

This command is an example of how the error might be triggered. The --force-with-lease option is key to reproducing the issue.

How Senior Engineers Fix It

Senior engineers typically fix this issue by first verifying the status of the local and remote repositories to ensure there are indeed no unstaged changes. They might use git status and git fetch followed by git status again to check for any changes. If the issue persists, they may try resetting the branch, using git reset --hard or git reset --soft depending on the situation, and then retry the push operation. In some cases, updating Git to the latest version or checking for repository corruption might be necessary.

Why Juniors Miss It

Juniors might miss this issue because they are less familiar with the nuances of Git, especially with options like --force-with-lease. They might not fully understand the implications of this option or how to troubleshoot issues related to it. Additionally, they might not know how to properly check for and resolve repository corruption or configuration issues that could lead to this error. Experience and a deeper understanding of Git’s inner workings are crucial in identifying and fixing this problem efficiently.