Here's a comprehensive article on how to sync your GitHub fork repository with the original/upstream repository and get the latest changes:

How to Sync Your GitHub Fork Repository with the Original/Upstream Repository

When you fork an open-source project on GitHub, it can be challenging to keep your forked repository up-to-date with the latest changes from the original/upstream repository. In this article, we will explore the steps necessary to sync your fork repository with the original/upstream repository using Git.

Step 1: Get the Original/Upstream Repository URL

To get started, go to the original/upstream repository page on GitHub and copy the URL. This alias name will be used to pull down the changes from the original/upstream repository. You can also replace the link in the above command with the original/upstream repository link of your forked repository.

Step 2: Add the Original/Upstream Repository

In order to sync your fork repository with the original/upstream repository, you need to add the original/upstream repository as a remote tracking branch. You can do this by executing the following command:

```

git remote add upstream 'original/upstream repository URL'

```

This will create an alias called 'upstream' that points to the original/upstream repository.

Step 3: Navigate to the Correct Branch

Before you can sync your fork repository with the original/upstream repository, you need to make sure that Git knows about the original/upstream repository. To do this, navigate to the correct branch in your local repository. In my example, I need to merge the changes from the 'develop' branch, so I will navigate to that branch.

You can use the following command to switch branches:

```

git checkout develop

```

Step 4: Get a List of Tracked Repositories

To get a list of all tracked repositories, execute the following command:

```

git remote -v

```

This will display a list of all remote tracking branches, including the original/upstream repository.

Step 5: Sync Your Fork Repository with the Original/Upstream Repository

To sync your fork repository with the original/upstream repository, you need to pull down the latest changes from the original/upstream repository and merge them into your fork repository. You can do this by executing the following command:

```

git pull upstream develop

```

This will fetch the latest changes from the 'develop' branch of the original/upstream repository and merge them into your local 'develop' branch.

In this article, we have seen how to sync your GitHub fork repository with the original/upstream repository using Git. By following these steps, you can keep your forked repository up-to-date with the latest changes from the original/upstream repository. Remember to navigate to the correct branch and add the original/upstream repository as a remote tracking branch before attempting to sync your repositories.

Forking Example

In my example, I have forked an open-source project called nopCommerce. As you can see in the above image, my fork repository is 15 commits behind the original/upstream repository. By following these steps, I was able to sync my fork repository with the original/upstream repository and get the latest changes.

Github desktop fork upstream changes