Say it like this
- Let me cherry-pick that commit
- We should cherry-pick the hotfix
- Can you cherry-pick these changes for the release?
Use it at work
Hotfix
- Can you cherry-pick the fix into the release branch?
- I cherry-picked the commit to the hotfix branch.
Being careful
- Don't cherry-pick the whole PR, just the bug fix.
- Cherry-picking caused a conflict. I'll resolve it.
Outside Git
- Let's not cherry-pick the data that supports our idea.
- They cherry-picked the easiest tasks.
Don't say this
Cherry-picking means selecting individual commits, not all commits. If you take all, you should use merge instead.
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Your team needs a security fix from another branch for the release. Which sounds most natural?
2. The developer decided to _______ the bug fix from the develop branch instead of merging everything.
3. Which sentence uses cherry-pick incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this using cherry-pick: 'We will take only the bug fix commit from the other branch and put it into our release branch, not the whole branch.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Let me cherry-pick that commit"
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More about cherry-pick
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"We discovered a critical bug yesterday, so I cherry-picked the fix from the develop branch into production."
- in a code review
"Instead of merging the entire feature branch, let's cherry-pick just the authentication module commit since the rest is still under review."
- in a team meeting
"For this release, we will cherry-pick specific improvements from main rather than doing a full merge to keep things stable."
More mistakes(1)
Handle with care. Do not use to mean selecting all commits or changes indiscriminately. It specifically refers to choosing individual commits from one branch and applying them to another, not general selection.
- ✕I cherry-picked the entire feature.✓I cherry-picked the bug fix commit.
Cherry-pick refers to individual commits, not features or branches as a whole.
Other forms(4)
- cherry-pick verb (base form)
"We need to cherry-pick this commit before deployment."
- cherry-picked verb (past tense)
"I cherry-picked the security patch yesterday."
- cherry-picking verb (present participle)
"Cherry-picking multiple commits can lead to merge conflicts."
- cherry-pick noun
"A strategic cherry-pick of bug fixes ensured stability."
Often used with(4)
- cherry-pick a commit · Most common usage; selecting a single commit from another branch
- cherry-pick a fix · Used when selecting a specific bug fix or patch
- cherry-pick into production · Applying selected commits directly to the production branch
- cherry-pick from main/develop · Specifying which branch you are cherry-picking from
Similar words(3)
- backport · More formal; typically means applying fixes to an older version
- port · Broader term; can mean moving code across branches or versions
- apply a commit · More generic; does not imply selective or strategic choice
Opposites(3)
- merge
- rebase
- integrate all changes
Questions(5)
- What does cherry-pick mean in software engineering?
- Cherry-pick is a Git operation that lets you select specific commits from one branch and apply them to another branch. Instead of merging an entire branch, you choose only the commits you need. This is useful for applying bug fixes, security patches, or specific features without pulling in other unfinished work.
- How do you use cherry-pick in a sentence at work?
- You can say: We cherry-picked the security fix from main into the release branch. Or: Can you cherry-pick that hotfix for production? Or in a standup: I cherry-picked three commits related to the login issue.
- Is cherry-pick formal or informal?
- Cherry-pick is neutral in formality. It is the standard technical term used in both casual team discussions and formal code reviews or documentation. It is neither slang nor overly formal.
- What is the difference between cherry-pick and merge?
- Merge combines an entire branch into another, including all its commits. Cherry-pick allows you to select and apply only specific commits you need. Cherry-pick gives you finer control but can create duplicate commits if used carelessly.
- When should you use cherry-pick?
- Use cherry-pick when you need a specific bug fix, security patch, or feature from another branch without merging all the changes. Common scenarios include applying hotfixes to production, backporting fixes to release branches, or pulling specific commits while leaving other work in progress.
