How to checkout on specific patch set in Gerrit Code Review

When you are working with Gerrit Code Review there is a need not only to get access to project changes that is waiting for “review”, but also to switch to a specific patch set. There are several approaches. Let’s focus on one of them, which is quite simple and verbose.

Note: Before the start, make sure that all necessary software (git, git-review) is installed and configured properly.

1. Clone the required project (git clone):

   $ git clone ssh://[email protected]:29418/cicsnkhaiedu-dev/sandbox
   Cloning into 'sandbox'...
   remote: Counting objects: 6, done
   remote: Finding sources: 100% (6/6)
   remote: Total 6 (delta 0), reused 6 (delta 0)
   Receiving objects: 100% (6/6), 671 bytes | 0 bytes/s, done.
   Checking connectivity... done.
   

   

2. Go to the directory with the project:

   $ cd sandbox
   

3. Gerrit Code Review allows you to get the information about all changes that have ever existed in the sandbox project.

   

4. Select the required changes (the proposed patch set). In our case, this is a project with the Subject `Add small changes to README.md file’

5. Copy the number that follows /c/ in the url field of the web browser (in our case this is 2). This number indicates the Change Set in the project:

   

6. Run git review command with the -d option (download) and specify the change number in the project - “branch”:

   $ git review -d 2
   Creating a git remote called "gerrit" that maps to:
        ssh://[email protected]:29418/cicsnkhaiedu-dev/sandbox
   Downloading refs/changes/02/2/4 from gerrit
   Switched to branch "review/vitalii_kulanov/2"
   

   After executing this command, a separate branch review/vitalii_kulanov/2 will be created, and you will be automatically switched to it.

   Note: To check which “branch” you are on or see all available “branches” for your repository, execute the git branch command (you can use --all option):

   $ git branch
     master
   * review/vitalii_kulanov/2
   $ git branch --all
     master
   * review/vitalii_kulanov/2
     remotes/gerrit/master
     remotes/origin/HEAD -> origin/master
     remotes/origin/master
   

   Please note, that now we have just downloaded and switched to the last suggested changes in the patch (last patch set). Also it is possible to switch between certain patch sets.

7. The list of available Patch Sets is shown in Gerrit Code Review interface:

   

8. Note, when you select a specific Patch Set, the url path will be changed too. It includes the change number in the project (Change Set) and the Patch Set number:

   

9. For switching to a specific Patch Set within the Change Set run the git review command with the -d option, specify Change number in the project and the number of the required Patch Set (comma separated):

   $ git review -d 2,3
   Downloading refs/changes/02/2/3 from gerrit
   Switched to branch "review/vitalii_kulanov/2-patch3"
   

   review/vitalii_kulanov/2-patch3 branch will be automatically created and you will be switched to it.

   Check the list of “branches” with git branch command:

   $ git branch
     master
     review/vitalii_kulanov/2
   * review/vitalii_kulanov/2-patch3
   

   Command git diff checks the current changes (in relation to the” origin/master “branch):

   $ git diff origin/master
   diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
   index dad16bd..f48e1e1 100644
   --- a/README.md
   +++ b/README.md
   @@ -1 +1,7 @@
   # Hello from sandbox
   +
   +This is a change
   +
   +And even more changes
   +
   +Last one
   

10. Make all the necessary changes to the current Patch Set and send these changes on “review”. The sequence of git commands should be the following:

   $ git add .
   $ git commit --amend
   $ git review

Note: You should always use the git commit command with the --amend option if you make changes to the existing changes (Change Set) of the appropriate Patch Set.