The Default Limitations

By default, Visual Studio operates under a git merge strategy, which is less optimal for larger software projects. The primary advantage of using git rebase is that it keeps all commits from a single feature branch organized in a linear fashion. This means that as you navigate through the commit history, you’ll consistently see the same feature until you reach the beginning. In contrast, using git merge can lead to a more chaotic history, where commits from various features intermingle, complicating debugging efforts.

You ideally want your commit history to resemble this (features are continuous):

• feature2_commit2
• feature2_commit1
• feature1_commit4
• feature1_commit3
• feature1_commit2
• feature1_commit1

However, it may look like this (features are separated):

• feature1_commit4
• feature2_commit2
• feature1_commit3
• feature2_commit1
• feature1_commit2
• feature1_commit1

For a comprehensive overview of these methods, you can refer to this insightful article. When you pull changes from a git repository using Visual Studio, it defaults to the git merge method, necessitating a change in settings.

Visual Studio Limitations

When attempting a git rebase through a command line and then pushing from Visual Studio, you might encounter a dialog indicating an issue. If you select Pull followed by Push or just Pull, a git merge will occur.

Another limitation is that Visual Studio does not allow you to push changes after a git rebase has been performed. Since the commit history gets reordered during a rebase, it requires a push with the --force-with-lease option, which isn’t enabled by default in Visual Studio. On the other hand, a git merge does not alter the order of commits, allowing a standard push.

To enable the rebase functionality, navigate to:

Tools → Options → Source Control → Git Global Settings

Then, set "Rebase local branch when pulling" to True and check the box for "Enable push --force-with-lease."

Setting Up for Success

After adjusting these settings, if you experience a failed push following a git rebase, a new option will appear: Force Push. This is essential for rewriting your commit history as intended.