How to Change Author Name in Git
Changing the author name in Git can be a crucial task, especially when you have taken over a project from someone else or if you want to unify your author name across all your repositories. This article will guide you through the steps to change your author name in Git, ensuring that your contributions are accurately attributed.
Understanding the Author Name in Git
In Git, the author name is used to identify the person who made the changes to the code. It is stored in the commit history and is crucial for maintaining proper credit and accountability. The author name is typically specified along with the email address when making a commit.
Steps to Change Author Name in Git
1.
Identify the Current Author Name
Before changing your author name, it’s essential to identify the current name. You can do this by running the following command in your terminal:
“`
git log –author=”Your Name”
“`
This will display all the commits made by you.
2.
Update the Author Name in the Local Repository
To change your author name in the local repository, you can use the `git config` command. Run the following command and replace “Your New Name” with your desired name:
“`
git config user.name “Your New Name”
“`
Similarly, update your email address with the following command:
“`
git config user.email “yournewemail@example.com”
“`
3.
Commit the Changes
After updating the author name and email, you need to commit the changes to your local repository. Run the following command:
“`
git commit –amend –no-edit
“`
This command will open an editor to review the commit message. Since you don’t want to change the commit message, press `Enter` to exit the editor.
4.
Force Push the Changes to the Remote Repository
To update the author name in the remote repository, you need to force push the changes. Before doing this, ensure that you have staged all your changes:
“`
git add .
“`
Now, force push the changes to the remote repository using the following command:
“`
git push origin –force
“`
This will overwrite the remote repository with the updated author name.
5.
Verify the Changes
After force pushing the changes, verify that the author name has been updated in the remote repository. You can do this by running the following command:
“`
git log –author=”Your New Name”
“`
This will display all the commits made by you with the new author name.
Conclusion
Changing the author name in Git is a straightforward process that involves updating the configuration in your local repository and force pushing the changes to the remote repository. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your contributions are accurately attributed and maintain proper credit for your work.
