Git Version Control Cookbook

How to do it...

1. Check whether we have any files in the modified state and check the log:

$ git status 
On branch master 
Your branch is up-to-date with 'origin/master'.  

nothing to commit, working directory clean 

$ git log --oneline 
3061dc6 Adds Java version of 'hello world' 
9c7532f Fixes compiler warnings 
5b5d692 Initial commit, K&R hello world 

2. Now, we can undo the commit, while retaining the changes in the index:

$ git reset --soft HEAD^ 

$ git log --oneline 
9c7532f Fixes compiler warnings 
5b5d692 Initial commit, K&R hello world 

$ git status 
On branch master 

Your branch is behind 'origin/master' by 1 commit, and can be fast-forwarded. 

  (use "git pull" to update your local branch) 

Changes to be committed: 

 (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." ...