Git Cheatsheet for Everyday Development

Git is an essential tool for modern software development. This cheatsheet provides a quick reference for the most common commands you’ll use every day. Whether you’re new to Git or just need a refresher, this guide has you covered.


1. Setup and Initialization

Configure your Git installation and initialize a new repository.

  • Configure user name:
    git config --global user.name "Your Name"
    
  • Configure user email:
    git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"
    
  • Initialize a new repository:
    git init
    
  • Clone an existing repository:
    git clone <repository_url>
    

2. Staging and Committing

Save your changes to the repository.

  • Check the status of your files:
    git status
    
  • Add a file to the staging area:
    git add <file_name>
    
  • Add all changes to the staging area:
    git add .
    
  • Commit your staged changes:
    git commit -m "Your commit message"
    

3. Branching and Merging

Work on different features in parallel.

  • List all branches:
    git branch
    
  • Create a new branch:
    git branch <branch_name>
    
  • Switch to a branch:
    git checkout <branch_name>
    
  • Create and switch to a new branch:
    git checkout -b <branch_name>
    
  • Merge a branch into your current branch:
    git merge <branch_name>
    
  • Delete a branch:
    git branch -d <branch_name>
    

4. Remote Repositories

Collaborate with others.

  • List remote repositories:
    git remote -v
    
  • Add a remote repository:
    git remote add <remote_name> <repository_url>
    
  • Fetch changes from a remote repository:
    git fetch <remote_name>
    
  • Pull changes from a remote repository:
    git pull <remote_name> <branch_name>
    
  • Push changes to a remote repository:
    git push <remote_name> <branch_name>
    

5. Viewing History

Inspect the history of your repository.

  • View commit history:
    git log
    
  • View commit history with more detail:
    git log --oneline --graph --decorate
    
  • View the changes made in a commit:
    git show <commit_hash>
    

Conclusion

This cheatsheet covers the basic Git commands to get you started. Git is a powerful tool with many more features to explore. For more in-depth information, check out the official Git documentation.

Happy coding! 🚀