Setting a Past Commit Date in Git and Pushing to GitHub

Sometimes, you might find yourself needing to set a commit to a past date, for example, to maintain consistency in your commit history or to trick you branch. Here's a guide on how to do this and push the commit to GitHub, ensuring the commit appears with the desired past date.

Step 1: Configure Your Local Repository

Ensure you have a local Git repository set up. If not, clone your desired GitHub repository to your local machine.

Step 2: Make Your Changes

Edit files and make the changes you want to commit.

Step 3: Stage Your Changes

Use the git add command to stage your changes for commit:

$ git add .

Step 4: Set the Commit Date

To set the commit date to a past date, such as January 14, 2024, you can use the GIT_COMMITTER_DATE environment variable along with the --date option in the git commit command:

$ GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="2024-01-14T12:00:00" git commit --date="2024-01-14T12:00:00" -m "Your commit message"

Replace "2024-01-14T12:00:00" with the exact date and time you wish to set, formatted as YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SS.

Step 5: Push to GitHub

After committing with the specified date, push your changes to the remote repository on GitHub:

git push origin main

Make sure to replace main with the correct branch name if different.

Step 6: Verify on GitHub

Check your GitHub repository to ensure the commit reflects the correct date.

Note: Altering commit dates can lead to confusion, especially in collaborative projects. It's crucial to use this for appropriate scenarios and adhere to project guidelines regarding commit integrity.

Happy Hacking!