Git Commands

Comprehensive Git commands and workflows for version control across all platforms.

Basic Commands

Command	Description
git init	Initialize a new Git repository
git clone <url>	Clone a repository from remote URL
git status	Show working directory status
git add <file>	Add file to staging area
git add .	Add all files to staging area
git commit -m "message"	Commit staged changes with message
git push	Push commits to remote repository
git pull	Pull changes from remote repository

Branching

Command	Description
git branch	List all branches
git branch <name>	Create new branch
git checkout <branch>	Switch to branch
git checkout -b <name>	Create and switch to new branch
git merge <branch>	Merge branch into current branch
git branch -d <name>	Delete branch

Remote Operations

Command	Description
git remote -v	Show remote repositories
git remote add <name> <url>	Add remote repository
git fetch	Fetch changes from remote
git push origin <branch>	Push branch to remote
git pull origin <branch>	Pull branch from remote

Advanced Commands

Command	Description
git log --oneline	Show commit history in one line
git diff	Show changes between commits
git reset --hard <commit>	Reset to specific commit
git stash	Temporarily save changes
git stash pop	Apply stashed changes
git rebase <branch>	Rebase current branch
git cherry-pick <commit>	Apply specific commit
git tag <name>	Create a tag

Common Workflows

Feature Branch Workflow

# Create and switch to feature branch
git checkout -b feature/new-feature

# Make changes and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Add new feature"

# Push to remote
git push origin feature/new-feature

# Merge back to main
git checkout main
git merge feature/new-feature
git branch -d feature/new-feature

Hotfix Workflow

# Create hotfix branch from main
git checkout main
git checkout -b hotfix/critical-bug

# Fix the bug and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Fix critical bug"

# Merge to main and develop
git checkout main
git merge hotfix/critical-bug
git checkout develop
git merge hotfix/critical-bug

# Clean up
git branch -d hotfix/critical-bug

Best Practices

Commit Messages

• Use present tense ("Add feature" not "Added feature")
• Keep first line under 50 characters
• Use body to explain what and why, not how
• Reference issues and pull requests when applicable

Branching Strategy

• Use descriptive branch names
• Keep branches focused on single features
• Delete merged branches
• Regularly sync with main branch

Repository Management

• Use .gitignore to exclude unnecessary files
• Keep commits atomic and focused
• Write meaningful commit messages
• Use tags for releases
• Regular backups to remote repositories