git: how to move some commits to new branch

Question

I have been working in straight line:

A---B---C---D---E---F (master:HEAD)

Now I want to move backward:

git checkout C


        

Answer 1

To get from your first diagram (master = HEAD = F) to option 1:

git branch new        # Make a 'new' branch pointing at HEAD, which is F
git reset --hard C    # Move master back to point at C
git checkout new      # Make HEAD follow new, and get F in the working tree

And from option 1 to option 2 (picking up where the above left off),

git rebase -i master  # Start the process of re-jiggering this branch
# edit the commit list that opens up to only include F
# save and exit
# resolve potential conflicts from missing changes in D and E

To go directly from your starting point to option 2:

git checkout -b new C  # Start the 'new' branch at C
git cherry-pick F      # Include F on it
git checkout master    # Switch back to master
git reset --hard C     # Rewind master to the earlier commit