How to Find the List of Files Changed in a Specific Git Commit?

In Git, to find the list of files changed in a specific commit, you can use the git show command or the git diff-tree command. I'll explain both methods in detail, with examples to demonstrate how to use them.

Method 1: Using git show

The git show command provides detailed information about a specific commit, including the list of files changed and specific code modifications. The syntax is:

bash
git show <commit-id> --name-only

Here, <commit-id> is the ID of the specific commit you want to inspect.

Example:

Suppose we have a commit ID of a1b2c3d, and we want to view the files changed in this commit. The command would be:

bash
git show a1b2c3d --name-only

This command lists all file names changed in the commit a1b2c3d.

Method 2: Using git diff-tree

The git diff-tree command also helps view file change information for a specific commit. It provides more detailed insights into the state of file changes, such as additions, deletions, or modifications. The syntax is:

bash
git diff-tree --no-commit-id --name-only -r <commit-id>

Here, <commit-id> is the ID of the commit you want to inspect.

Example:

Using the same commit ID a1b2c3d, the command would be:

bash
git diff-tree --no-commit-id --name-only -r a1b2c3d

This command displays only the file names changed in the commit a1b2c3d, without showing specific diff content.

Summary

Both methods effectively help you quickly identify the list of files changed in a specific commit. git show offers a straightforward approach for viewing changes, while git diff-tree provides more customizable options. Choose the command that best fits your needs. In my practical experience, I frequently use these commands to track specific changes, ensuring overall code consistency and quality.