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gitgit-reset

Why git can't do hard/soft resets by path?

$ git reset -- <file_path> can reset by path.

However, $ git reset (--hard|--soft) <file_path> will report an error like below:

Cannot do hard|soft reset with paths.
Solution

  • Because there's no point (other commands provide that functionality already), and it reduces the potential for doing the wrong thing by accident.

    A "hard reset" for a path is just done with git checkout HEAD -- <path> (checking out the existing version of the file).

    A soft reset for a path doesn't make sense.

    A mixed reset for a path is what git reset -- <path> does.