All Git Commands: The ultimate guide to Git version control
Git is essential for anyone working on software development projects. This guide will walk you through all the essential Git commands, covering everything from basic operations to advanced commands. We’ll cover the most important commands for creating, tracking, and managing your code. This post is tailored to beginners and seasoned developers alike and includes everything you need to master Git.
Introduction to Git
Git is a distributed version control system, which means it allows you to track changes, collaborate with others, and manage multiple versions of code. Understanding Git commands is fundamental for efficient project management. This guide includes whole list Git commands to help you work smoothly and keep your projects well-organized.
Basic Git commands
The basic commands are foundational for using Git. They help you set up repositories, commit changes, and keep your project history structured.
- git init – Initialize a new Git repository
- git clone <repository> – Clone an existing repository
- git add <file> – Stage changes for commit
- git commit -m "message" – Commit staged changes with a message
- git status – Show the status of changes
- git push – Upload local changes to a remote repository
- git pull – Fetch and merge changes from a remote repository
- git log – Show commit history
Intermediate Git commands
Intermediate commands allow you to make more advanced changes, manage branches, and handle merges.
- git branch – List branches or create a new one
- git checkout <branch> – Switch branches or restore files
- git merge <branch> – Merge a branch into the current branch
- git stash – Temporarily save changes without committing
- git stash apply – Reapply stashed changes
- git remote add <name> <URL> – Add a new remote repository
- git fetch – Fetch changes from a remote repository without merging
- git rebase – Reapply commits on top of another base tip
Advanced Git commands
Advanced Git commands are for more complex tasks, including rewriting history and interactive rebase, which can help you clean up your commits and manage your repository more effectively.
- git reset <commit> – Reset to a specific commit
- git revert <commit> – Create a new commit that undoes a previous commit
- git cherry-pick <commit> – Apply specific commits from other branches
- git filter-branch – Rewrite branches with filters
- git reflog – Show a log of changes made to branches
- git tag <name> <commit> – Tag specific commits for reference
Miscellaneous Git commands
Here’s a list of some useful Git commands that don’t fit into the basic, intermediate, or advanced categories but are handy for various tasks.
- git archive – Create a zip or tar archive of a branch or commit
- git bisect – Use binary search to find the commit that introduced a bug
- git shortlog – Summarize commit history by author
- git describe – Describe a commit using the latest tag reachable from it
Setting up aliases in Git
Aliases in Git allow you to shorten command syntax and customize frequently used commands. Here’s how to set an alias:
For example, setting an alias for git checkout can be done with:
Complete list of all Git commands
Below is a comprehensive list of Git commands used in this guide, categorized for easy reference:
Basic Commands
git init, git clone, git add, git commit -m, git status, git push, git pull, git log
Intermediate Commands
git branch, git checkout, git merge, git stash, git stash apply, git remote add, git fetch, git rebase
Advanced Commands
git reset, git revert, git cherry-pick, git filter-branch, git reflog, git tag
Miscellaneous Commands
git archive, git bisect, git shortlog, git describe
Aliases
git config --global alias.<alias-name> <git-command>
Save this guide for later! Download our free Git commands PDF to keep all the essential commands in one place
Conclusion
Mastering Git commands can greatly improve your productivity, especially when working on team projects. By knowing how to use Git efficiently, you’ll be able to track, manage, and collaborate on projects more effectively. Bookmark this guide and refer back to it whenever you need a reminder.
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For detailed instructions on installing Git, you can visit the official Git installation guide. This guide covers the steps for all major operating systems, ensuring you have Git properly set up to start managing your projects effectively.