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meta-d edited this page Mar 8, 2024 · 1 revision

A Guide to Common Git Commands

Git, a powerful version control system, is widely used by developers for managing project source code efficiently. Understanding its essential commands is crucial for effective collaboration and project management. Here's a breakdown of some common Git commands:

  1. git init: Initializes a new Git repository in the current directory, creating a .git subdirectory that stores version control information.

  2. git clone [url]: Copies an existing Git repository from a remote source to your local machine. This command is used to obtain a local copy of a project for development or collaboration.

  3. git add [file]: Adds specified file(s) to the staging area, preparing them for the next commit. Alternatively, you can use git add . to add all changes in the current directory.

  4. git commit -m "message": Records changes to the repository, creating a new commit with a descriptive message explaining the changes. It's important to provide meaningful commit messages to aid in understanding the history of changes.

  5. git status: Displays the current status of the repository, showing which files are staged, unstaged, or untracked. This command provides an overview of the changes made since the last commit.

  6. git diff: Shows the differences between the working directory and the staging area. It helps to review changes before committing them.

  7. git log: Displays a chronological list of commits in the repository, including commit hashes, authors, dates, and commit messages. This command is useful for tracking changes and understanding project history.

  8. git pull: Fetches changes from the remote repository and merges them into the current branch. It's used to update your local repository with the latest changes from the remote server.

  9. git push: Sends committed changes from your local repository to the remote repository, updating the remote branch with your changes.

  10. git branch: Lists all branches in the repository. Adding a branch name after the command (git branch [branch_name]) creates a new branch based on the current commit.

  11. git checkout [branch_name]: Switches to the specified branch, allowing you to work on different branches within the same repository.

  12. git merge [branch_name]: Combines the specified branch into the current branch, integrating changes from the other branch into the current branch's history.

  13. git remote -v: Displays the remote repositories associated with the current repository, showing the repository URLs for fetching and pushing changes.

  14. git fetch: Retrieves changes from the remote repository without merging them into the local branches. It's useful for reviewing changes before integrating them into your local branches.

  15. git reset [file]: Unstages the specified file, removing it from the staging area without discarding the changes.

These are just a few of the many Git commands available for managing version control in software projects. Mastering these commands empowers developers to effectively collaborate, track changes, and manage project history using Git.