This article aims to compare the functionality and benefits of two features in IntelliJ IDEA/Netbeans: Git stash and shelve.

Git stash is a command that allows users to temporarily store changes without committing them, reverting the working directory to match the HEAD commit. It operates with a group of changed files and does not provide the option to select specific files or changes within a file.

On the other hand, shelve, an IntelliJ IDEA feature, can operate with individual files or a collection of files and allows users to specify which files or lines to include. Shelve is more flexible than git stash and can be used to isolate modifications in a branch or share them with a team by adding them to version control. However, shelve is not stored in the .git folder, affecting its portability.

Ultimately, the choice between git stash and shelve depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user.

Functionality of Stash

Stash is a Git command that is used to save the current state of the working directory and index, allowing for the reverting of changes to match the HEAD commit.

When using stash, all the modified and staged files are saved, and the working directory is reverted to match the HEAD commit. This is useful when you want to temporarily set aside the changes you have made without committing them.

Stash can only operate with a group of changed files at once, which means that individual files or specific changes within a file cannot be stashed separately.

The stashed files are stored under the .git directory, and they can be retrieved later on using the unstash command.

Comparison with Shelve

Shelve provides a more flexible and customizable approach compared to its counterpart, Git stash.

While Git stash is a command-line option that is similar to shelve in other version control systems like bzr and hg, shelve is an IntelliJ IDEA feature that allows for more granular control over the shelving process.

One key difference is that shelve can operate with individual files or a bunch of files, while stash can only operate with a whole bunch of changed files at once.

Additionally, shelve allows users to specify which files or lines to include in the shelving process, whereas stash does not provide the option to select specific files or changes inside a file.

Shelve puts shelved files into the .idea/shelf directory, while stash puts stashed files under the .git directory.

Overall, shelve offers a more versatile and customizable approach compared to Git stash.

Benefits of Stash

One benefit of utilizing the stash and shelve features is the ability to record and revert changes in a version control system.

While both stash and shelve offer this functionality, stash is particularly useful for recording and reverting changes in the working directory and index. It allows you to temporarily store pending changes without committing them, which can be helpful when you need to switch to a different branch or work on a different task.

Stash also provides a convenient way to isolate modifications in a branch, allowing you to work on different features independently.

Additionally, stash is a Git feature, making it compatible with various Git workflows and tools.

Use Cases for Shelve

Use cases for shelve include:

• Temporarily storing pending changes
• Sharing changes with a team by adding them to version control
• Isolating modifications in a branch
• Selectively selecting specific files or changes

Shelve is useful for temporarily storing changes that are not ready to be committed, allowing developers to switch to a different task without losing their progress.

By adding shelved changes to version control, developers can share their work with others and collaborate effectively.

Shelve also allows for isolating modifications in a branch, enabling developers to work on different features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase.

Additionally, shelve provides the flexibility to select specific files or changes to include, making it a valuable tool for managing complex projects.

Portability of Patches

The portability of patches is affected by the storage location of shelved changes, which is not within the .git folder. When changes are shelved using IntelliJ IDEA or Netbeans, the shelved files are placed into the .idea/shelf directory. This means that the shelved changes are not stored alongside the Git repository, potentially limiting their portability.

In contrast, when using Git stash, the stashed files are stored under the .git directory, ensuring that the changes are stored within the Git repository itself. This allows for greater portability of the stashed changes, as they can be easily shared and transferred along with the repository.

Therefore, if portability of patches is a concern, using Git stash may be a more suitable option compared to shelving changes in IntelliJ IDEA or Netbeans.