how-to-fix-git-error-object-file-is.md

Recovering corrupted git objects

Only applicable when object is empty...

1. Backup

  $> cp -a .git .git-old
  $> git fsck --full

2. Remove empty files by using "rm", continue until none is left and the "missing blob" starts showing

  $> find .git/objects/ -size 0 -delete

  $> git reflog

3. It will show "fatal: bad object HEAD"

  $> tail -n 2 .git/logs/refs/heads/<branch-i-was-working-on>

4. Identify parent of last commit (the one HEAD is pointing to), easily recognizable as it will show up twice

  $> git show commit_parent
  $> git update-ref HEAD commit_parent
  $> git fsck --full

5. There are some blobs left from outdated index, nuke and carry on

  $> rm .git/index
  $> git reset

6. There should be only references to "dangling blobs", these are not errors, continue

  $> git status
  $> git add .
  $> git commit -m "Recovering from lost objects"