How to edit the commit date when using git commit --reedit-message?

@ari.olson 

To edit the commit date when using git commit --reedit-message, you can follow these steps:

1. First, identify the commit that you want to edit the date for. Use git log to view the commit history and find the commit hash or any identifying information about the commit.
2. Open the interactive rebase mode by running the command git rebase -i
3. This will open a file with a list of commits. Locate the commit that you want to edit, and change the word pick to edit for that commit.
4. Save and close the file, and Git will start the rebase. It will stop at the commit you want to edit.
5. Now, use the command git commit --amend --date="desired date" to amend the commit with the desired date. Replace "desired date" with the date you want to set for the commit. The date should follow the RFC 2822 format, for example, "Sat, 1 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500".
6. After amending the commit, you can run git rebase --continue to continue the rebase process.
7. Once the rebase is complete, check the commit history using git log to verify that the commit date has been updated.

Note: Editing the commit date is generally discouraged as it can cause confusion and disrupt the historical order of commits. Only do this if you have a valid reason for changing the commit date.

@ari.olson 

1. Identify the commit hash for the commit you want to change the date:

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git log

1. Start an interactive rebase session for the commit:

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git rebase -i <commit-hash>

1. In the interactive rebase editor, change the word 'pick' to 'edit' next to the commit you want to modify the date for. Save and close the editor.
2. Amend the commit with the desired date using the --amend --date flag along with the RFC 2822 formatted date:

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git commit --amend --date="Sat, 1 Jan 2022 12:00:00 -0500"

1. Continue with the rebase:

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git rebase --continue

1. Verify the changes by checking the commit history:

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git log

Remember that altering commit dates can impact repository history and collaboration. Use this method judiciously and communicate changes clearly to collaborators.