GIT · Recovery · 5 min

Recover the deleted runbook

Restore one tracked file while preserving another unfinished edit.

Not completed

Your task

Restore runbook.txt from the current commit. Keep the unfinished change in notes.txt. Do not stage or commit anything.

What you’re aiming for

runbook.txt matches the committed version.
notes.txt retains its draft edit.
The staging area and commit history are unchanged.

1. Prepare your practice folder

Use Git 2.28 or newer. The setup commands below use a Bash-compatible shell: Git Bash on Windows, or Bash on Linux/macOS.

Create a new, empty folder for this exercise. If that name already exists, choose another new name. Continue only after you’re inside the new folder.

NEW PRACTICE FOLDER

mkdir opsrung-git-restore-runbook && cd opsrung-git-restore-runbook

Run these setup commands in that folder:

SETUP — RUN ONCE

git init --initial-branch=main
git config --local user.name 'Practice Learner'
git config --local user.email 'practice@example.invalid'
printf 'Deploy:\n1. Run tests.\n2. Review rollout.\n' > runbook.txt
printf 'Initial note.\n' > notes.txt
git add .
git commit -m 'Add runbook and notes'
rm runbook.txt
printf 'Keep this draft.\n' > notes.txt

Only if your personal Git settings interfere

You can normally skip this. If a commit asks for a signing key, runs a custom hook, or changes line endings unexpectedly, these repository-local overrides keep this disposable exercise independent of those settings.

OPTIONAL REPOSITORY OVERRIDES

git config --local commit.gpgsign false
git config --local core.autocrlf false
git config --local core.hooksPath .git/practice-no-hooks

Retry the failed command afterward. These settings apply only inside this practice repository.

2. Try the task

Work toward the goal above. Start by inspecting the files or resources, then use a hint if you need one.

Hint 1

Use git status to distinguish the deleted file from the edited note.

Hint 2

A repository-wide reset would affect work you need to keep.

Hint 3

Restore just runbook.txt from the index with git restore -- runbook.txt.

3. Review your result

Use these commands to look at your result and compare it with the goals. The website does not run or verify them.

REVIEW IN YOUR TERMINAL

cat runbook.txt
git diff -- notes.txt
git diff --staged
git status

What you should see

cat runbook.txt shows Deploy:, followed by 1. Run tests. and 2. Review rollout. on separate lines.
git diff -- notes.txt still shows Keep this draft.
git diff --staged produces no output. In git status, only the notes.txt edit remains.

If your result differs: Restore only runbook.txt. A repository-wide restore could erase the draft in notes.txt.

Compare with one possible solution

ONE POSSIBLE SOLUTION

git restore -- runbook.txt

Other approaches are fine if you reach the same goal. Opening this solution does not mark the exercise complete.

Finished this exercise?

You decide when you’re done. Your choice is saved in this browser, and you can change it later.