50 Essential Git Commands¶

1. Initial Configuration¶

Command	Purpose
git init	Initialize a new Git repository in the current directory.
git config --global user.name "Your Name"	Set the global author name for commits.
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"	Set the global author email for commits.
git config --list	Show the current Git configuration.
git config --global core.editor "editor"	Set the default editor for commit messages, such as nano or vim.

2. Repository Creation and Management¶

Command	Purpose
git clone <URL>	Clone a remote repository locally.
git remote add origin <URL>	Connect the local repository to a remote GitHub repository.
git remote -v	List configured remote repositories.
git remote remove origin	Remove the remote named origin.
git remote set-url origin <new-URL>	Change the URL of the remote repository.

3. File Management¶

Command	Purpose
git add <file>	Add a specific file to the staging area.
git add .	Add all modified files to the staging area.
git rm <file>	Remove a file from the repository and stage the removal.
git mv <old-file> <new-file>	Rename or move a file.
git restore <file>	Discard uncommitted changes in a file.
git restore --staged <file>	Unstage a file while keeping local changes.

4. Commits¶

Command	Purpose
git commit -m "Commit message"	Create a commit from staged changes.
git commit -a -m "Message"	Automatically stage tracked files and commit them.
git commit --amend	Modify the latest commit message or contents.
git log	Show the commit history.
git log --oneline	Show one compact line per commit.
git log --graph	Show the commit history with a branch graph.
git show <commit>	Show details for a specific commit.

5. Branches¶

Command	Purpose
git branch	List local branches.
git branch <name>	Create a new branch.
git checkout <name>	Switch to the specified branch.
git checkout -b <name>	Create and switch to a new branch.
git branch -d <name>	Delete a local branch.
git merge <name>	Merge the specified branch into the current branch.
git rebase <name>	Reapply commits from one branch on top of another.

6. GitHub Interaction¶

Command	Purpose
git push origin <branch>	Push local commits to a remote branch.
git push -u origin <branch>	Set the upstream branch for future pushes.
git push origin --delete <branch>	Delete a remote branch.
git pull origin <branch>	Download and merge changes from the remote branch.
git fetch origin	Download remote changes without merging.
git pull --rebase	Pull changes and reapply local commits on top.

7. Inspection and Comparison¶

Command	Purpose
git status	Show the current repository state.
git diff	Show differences between modified files and the last commit.
git diff --staged	Show differences between staged files and the last commit.
git blame <file>	Show who last changed each line of a file.

8. Undoing Changes¶

Command	Purpose
git reset --soft <commit>	Move HEAD to a commit while keeping changes staged.
git reset --hard <commit>	Move HEAD to a commit and discard local changes.
git revert <commit>	Create a new commit that reverses another commit.
git clean -f	Remove untracked files from the working directory.

Use destructive commands such as git reset --hard and git clean -f carefully. They can permanently remove local work.

9. Stash¶

Command	Purpose
git stash	Temporarily save uncommitted changes.
git stash list	List saved stashes.
git stash apply	Apply the latest stash without removing it.
git stash pop	Apply the latest stash and remove it from the stash list.
git stash drop	Remove the latest stash.
git stash clear	Remove all stashed states.