Top 15 Essential Git Commands
Git is a powerful, distributed version control system and open-source software that allows developers to efficiently manage multiple versions of source code. It provides the ability to track changes, identify who made them, and understand the reasons behind those changes. Today, Git is an essential tool for developers, and familiarity with Git commands is crucial for leveraging its full potential. Although there are numerous Git commands, only a handful are commonly used on a regular basis.
Top Git Commands for Every Developer
Git provides numerous commands that facilitate collaboration, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity for developers. Many basic Git commands are frequently used by developers in their daily tasks. This article will highlight the Top Git Commands that are essential for effective project management in a collaborative environment.
1. git init
Initialize a new Git repository in the current directory
The first step in starting a new Git repository is to use the git init command. This command initializes an empty Git repository in the current directory.
Before you can begin tracking changes in your project, you need to set up a Git repository. The git init command creates a hidden .git directory in the root folder of your project, establishing the necessary structure for the repository.
git init
2. git config
Before you can start using Git, you need to configure it. This involves specifying the username and email address that will be associated with your commits.
# sets up Git with your name git config --global user.name "<Your-Full-Name>" # sets up Git with your email git config --global user.email "<your-email-address>"
3. git clone
The command you’ll use in the terminal is git clone, which illustrates how cloning is related to Git. The git clone command takes a path, typically a URL, to the Git repository you want to clone. Running git clone with the repository’s URL creates a local working copy of the remote repository’s source code. This command downloads the code to your machine automatically. If you have the necessary permissions, it will also add the original repository as a remote, allowing you to pull changes from it and push your changes to it.
git clone https://github.com/<repo-url>
4. git status
The git status command is essential for understanding the current state of your repository from Git’s perspective. It provides information on changes that have been staged, changes that have not been staged, and files that are not being tracked by Git. When you’re starting out, it’s highly recommended to use the git status command frequently. Running this command after every other command helps you become more familiar with Git and prevents you from making incorrect assumptions about the state of your files or repository.
git status
5. git add
To move files from the Working Directory to the Staging Index in Git, you use the git add command. This command allows you to prepare changes in a file for the next commit by adding them to the staging area. Before committing a new or changed file, it’s essential to use git add to stage it. You can specify which files to add by using the git add command followed by the specific file names or paths. This prepares them for comparison with the versions in the remote repository before you commit your changes.
$ git add <file1> <file2> … <fileN>
To add all the files
$ git add .
6. git commit
This command saves a log message along with the commit id of the modifications made to the git repository. The modifications are saved in your local repository with a git commit. You must include a brief description of the changes made every time you commit your code changes. This commit message aids others in comprehending the changes made.
$ git commit –m "<Type your commit message here>"
7. git push
This command pushes the contents of your local repository to the remote repository you’ve added. It specifically pushes the commits from your local master branch to the newly added remote repository. If the named branch doesn’t already exist in the remote repository, Git will create it during this process.
8. git branch
Add a new branch to an existing branch, list all existing branches, and delete a branch with a git branch. This command is used to perform operations on a branch that has been specified. When you run this command, Git will remove all files and folders from the Working Directory it is tracking (files that Git tracks are stored in the repository, so nothing is lost) and pull all of the files and directories from the commit that the branch links to from the repository. Create a new branch locally:
$ git branch <branch-name>
Take a look at the branches and check out which branch you’re currently working:
$ git branch or $ git branch --list
9. git checkout
The git checkout command is used to switch to an existing branch or create and switch to a new one. The branch you want to switch to must already exist in your local system. Before switching branches, any changes in your current branch should be committed or stashed.
Additionally, git checkout can also be used to check out files from different commits or branches. When you run this command with a specific <branch-name>, Git updates the files in your Working Directory to reflect the state of the commit associated with that branch. It effectively updates your local workspace with the files and directories from that particular commit.
$ git checkout <branch-name>
10. git merge
Merge changes from one branch into another
The history of the specified branch is merged into the current branch with this command. The command git merge joins your branch to the parent branch. Depending on your process, the parent branch can be either a development or a master branch. If there are no conflicts, it will make a new commit automatically. You should be on the branch you want to merge with your parent branch before running the git merge command. The history of the specified branch is merged into the current branch with this command.
$ git merge <name-of-branch-to-merge-in>
11. git pull
The contents of the remote repository are fetched and integrated into your local repository using this command. git pull pulls the most recent changes from the remote server into the local repository, ensuring you have the most up-to-date information from your coworkers.
$ git pull
12. git log
The git log command is used to show all of a repository’s commits. This command displays a log of all commits made to the current branch so far
git log
13. git fetch
Download objects and refs from another repository
The git fetch command downloads the latest changes from a remote repository but doesn’t merge them with your local repository.
The git fetch command allows you to retrieve changes from a remote repository without merging them immediately. This is useful when you want to review changes before incorporating them.
git fetch origin
14. Git stash
Temporarily save changes that are not ready for commit
This git command allows developers to temporarily save changes to the working directory without committing them to the Git repository. This command is useful for saving changes that are not yet ready to be committed, such as unfinished features or experimental code. Git stash can help developers keep their code organized and easily switch between different code states.
When you’re in the middle of a task but need to switch branches or work on something else, the git stash command allows you to save your changes without committing them, preventing loss of work.
git stash
15. Git tag
Create, list, or delete tags
The git tag command allows developers to assign a permanent name and version number to a specific commit in the git repository. This command is useful for marking important milestones in the development process, such as the release of a new version of the software. Git tags are typically used to mark stable or production-ready versions of the code and can be used to reference specific versions of the software in the future.
Tags are used to mark specific points in your project’s history, often indicating release versions. The git tag command lets you manage these tags.
git tag v1.0.0
Conclusion
These 15 Git commands are essential for every developer to collaborate on projects. By using these git Commands we can manage our code effectively. Whether an experienced developer or just a beginner, mastering these git commands is very important to enhanced productivity development.