index.md

slug	title	description	authors	contributors	published	modified	aliases	keywords	tags	license	external_resources
how-to-use-git	How to Use Git the Version Control System	This Quick Answer guide explains how to use Git to create a repository, stage a commit, and then push that commit.	Angel Guarisma	Angel Guarisma	2017-06-19	2017-07-17	/quick-answers/linux/how-to-use-git/ /quick-answers/how-to-use-git/	Linux how to use Git github create git repo	version control system linux	[CC BY-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0)	[Learn Git with Bitbucket Cloud](https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/learn-git-with-bitbucket-cloud) [Pro Git Book](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2) [Github Guides](https://guides.github.com/)

Git is a version control system that can be used to manage software projects. This guide's six steps will show you how to initialize a Git repository, stage files for a commit, and commit these files to a local Git repository. For fuller instruction, refer to our more robust guide on Git Source Control Management.

1. Create a folder in which to store your files, then initialize a Git repository in that folder:

   mkdir testgit
   cd testgit
   git init
   

2. Create files for Git to track, then append some text to a file:

    touch file.txt file2.txt file3.txt
    echo "hello Linode" >> file.txt
   

3. Use git status to return information about the current Git repository:

   git status
   

   {{< output >}} On branch master

Initial commit

Untracked files: (use "git add ..." to include in what will be committed)

file.txt file2.txt file3.txt

nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track) {{</ output >}}

4. Since file.txtcontains text, you want Git to track any future changes to that file. Use git add file.txt to add file.txt to the list of files Git monitors. Type git status after the addition to confirm that Git is tracking the new file.

    git add file.txt
    git status
   

   This will return:

   {{< output >}} On branch master

Initial commit

Changes to be committed: (use "git rm --cached ..." to unstage)

new file: file.txt

Untracked files: (use "git add ..." to include in what will be committed)

file2.txt file3.txt {{< /output >}}

5. To commit the changes of file.txt to the version control system, use git commit. Git requires you to write a commit message, a message will help you remember the changes you have made to your files. In this example, use the -am options to commit all modified files, specifically the ones Git is tracking, and include a commit message:

    git commit -am "Added Hello Linode to file.txt"
   

   Git will return the following message, confirming your new changes:

   {{< output >}} [master (root-commit) e8cc496] added new file 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+) create mode 100644 file.txt {{< /output >}}

6. Track the remaining files in the directory using git add -A, and commit them with a message:

    git add -A
    git status
   

   Returns:

   {{< output >}} On branch master Changes to be committed: (use "git reset HEAD ..." to unstage)

modified: file.txt new file: file2.txt new file: file3.txt

Now, commit the changes:

git commit -am "The end!"

[master 52a9240] The End
4 files changed, 1 insertion(+)
create mode 100644 file1.txt
create mode 100644 file2.txt
create mode 100644 file3.txt

{{< /output >}} {{< note >}} git add -A, git add ., and git add -u can all be used to stage files for a commit. git add -A stages all of the files in the directory. git add . stages only the new and modified files, omitting any deleted files. git add -u stages only the modified and deleted files, omitting any new files. {{< /note >}}