Basic Git Commands & Repository Management #
git init — Initialize a Repository #
This command is used to create a new, empty Git repository in your current project folder. It initializes the .git directory that stores all version control data.
Example:
git init
After running this, your folder becomes a Git repository and you can start tracking changes.
git clone — Copy a Remote Repository Locally #
Used to copy an existing repository (from GitHub or another source) to your local machine. This command downloads all files, commits, and branches.
Example:
git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
This creates a new directory with the project’s files and Git history.
git status — Check Repository State #
Displays the current status of your working directory and staging area. It shows which files are modified, staged, or untracked.
Example:
git status
This helps you know what changes need to be committed or added to the staging area.
git add — Add Changes to Staging Area #
This command stages the changes you made so they can be committed. It prepares specific files (or all files) to be saved in the next snapshot.
Examples:
git add filename.txt
Adds a specific file.
git add .
Stages all modified and new files.
git commit — Save Snapshot #
Used to save your staged changes into the repository as a new commit. Each commit includes a message describing the changes made.
Example:
git commit -m "Added homepage design"
Each commit is a record of your project’s state, allowing you to go back to previous versions later.
git log — View Commit History #
Displays the list of all commits made in the repository, including commit IDs, author names, dates, and messages.
Example:
git log
To view a shorter summary:
git log --oneline
This helps track project progress and identify specific changes over time.
Undoing Changes #
git checkout — Switch Branches or Restore Files #
This command allows you to move between branches or restore files to a previous version.
Examples:
- Switch to another branch:
git checkout main - Restore a file to the last committed state:
git checkout -- filename.txt
Note: In newer versions of Git, git switch (for branches) and git restore (for files) are preferred.
git reset — Undo Commits #
Used to undo commits or unstage changes by moving the branch pointer and optionally changing the working directory or staging area.
Examples:
- Unstage a file:
git reset filename.txt - Undo the last commit (keep changes):
git reset --soft HEAD~1 - Undo the last commit and discard changes:
git reset --hard HEAD~1
Be careful with --hard because it permanently deletes changes.
git revert — Undo with a New Commit #
Unlike git reset, this command creates a new commit that reverses the changes of a specific commit. It’s the safest way to undo commits in a shared repository because it preserves history.
Example:
git revert <commit-id>
This adds a new commit that undoes the effects of the specified commit.
