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20 Git Commands

· 4 min read
Shahmeer
Shahmeer
Shahmeer

Git Basics​

Before we dive into the more advanced Git commands, let's review some basics.

Initializing a Git Repository​

To initialize a Git repository, navigate to the directory of your project in the command line and enter the following command:

git init

This will create a new Git repository in your current directory.

Cloning a Repository​

To clone an existing Git repository, enter the following command:

git clone [repository URL]

This will create a copy of the repository in your local directory.

Checking the Status of a Repository​

s To check the status of your repository, enter the following command:

git status

This will show you any changes that have been made to your code since the last commit.

Staging Changes​

To stage changes for a commit, use the following command:

git add [file name]

This will add the specified file to the staging area, ready for commit.

Committing Changes​

To commit changes, use the following command:

git commit -m "commit message"

This will create a new commit with the specified commit message.

Branching and Merging​

Branching and merging are essential Git commands for managing multiple versions of your codebase.

Creating a Branch​

To create a new branch, use the following command:

git branch [branch name]

This will create a new branch with the specified name.

Switching Between Branches​

To switch between branches, use the following command:

git checkout [branch name]

This will switch you to the specified branch.

Merging Branches​

To merge a branch into your current branch, use the following command

git merge [branch name]

This will merge the specified branch into your current branch.

Resolving Merge Conflicts​

If there are conflicts when merging branches, use the following command to resolve them:

git mergetool

This will open a tool to help you resolve the conflicts.

Collaborating with Others​

Git makes it easy to collaborate with others on a coding project.

Adding a Remote​

To add a remote repository, use the following command:

git remote add [name] [repository URL]

This will add a remote repository with the specified name and URL.

Fetching Changes​

To fetch changes from a remote repository, use the following command:

git fetch [remote name]

This will fetch any changes made to the remote repository.

Pulling Changes​

To pull changes from a remote repository, use the following command:

git pull [remote name] [branch name]

This will pull any changes made to the specified branch of the remote repository.

Pushing Changes​

To push changes to a remote repository, use the following command:

git push [remote name] [branch name]

This will push any changes made to the specified branch of the remote repository.

Advanced Git Commands​

Now that we’ve covered the basics of Git, let’s take a look at some more advanced Git commands.

Checking Out Specific Commits​

To check out a specific commit, use the following command:

git checkout [commit hash]

This will check out the specified commit, allowing you to view the code at that point in time.

Amending Commits​

To amend a commit, use the following command:

git commit --amend

This will allow you to add any changes to the previous commit.

Reverting Commits​

To revert a commit, use the following command:

git revert [commit hash]

This will create a new commit that undoes the changes made in the specified commit.

Rebasing Branches​

To rebase a branch, use the following command

git rebase [base branch] [topic branch]

This will apply the changes made in the topic branch onto the base branch.

Cherry-Picking Commits​

To cherry-pick a commit, use the following command:

git cherry-pick [commit hash]

This will apply the changes made in the specified commit onto your current branch.

Stashing Changes​

To stash changes that you don’t want to commit yet, use the following command:

git stash save [message]

This will save your changes to a stash, allowing you to retrieve them later.

Conclusion​

In this article, we’ve covered 20 Git commands that will make you a version control pro. By mastering these commands, you’ll be able to more effectively manage your codebase, collaborate with others, and track changes to your code. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Git user, these commands will help take your version control skills to the next level.