Git Commands for Version Control

Git is a distributed version control system that is essential for modern software development. This cheat sheet provides a quick reference for commonly used Git commands, categorized for easy access. Whether you're initializing a new project, managing branches, or collaborating with a team, these commands will help you navigate your Git workflow efficiently.

Repository Management Commands

Command	Description
git init	Initialize a new Git repository in the current directory.
git clone <url>	Clone a remote repository to your local machine.
git status	Show the current status of the working directory and staging area.
git add <file>	Add a specific file or changes in the working directory to the staging area. Use git add . to add all changes.
git commit -m <message>	Record the staged changes to the repository with a descriptive commit message.
git push	Upload local commits to the remote repository.
git pull	Fetch changes from the remote repository and merge them into the current branch.
git fetch	Download commits, files, and refs from a remote repository without merging.
git merge <branch>	Integrate changes from a specified branch into the current branch.
git branch	List all local branches.
git branch <branch>	Create a new branch.
git checkout <branch>	Switch to a different branch.
git checkout -b <branch>	Create a new branch and switch to it immediately.
git branch -d <branch>	Delete a local branch that has been merged. Use -D to force deletion.
git log	Display the commit history of the current branch.
git diff	Show the differences between the working directory and the staging area, or between commits.
git blame <file>	Show the revision and author who last modified each line of a file.
git reflog	Show a log of changes to HEAD and branch references. Useful for recovering lost commits.
git reset --hard <commit>	Reset the current HEAD to a specific commit, discarding all changes after it. Use with caution.
git revert <commit>	Create a new commit that undoes the changes introduced by a specified commit.
git stash	Temporarily store uncommitted changes in the working directory to switch branches or perform other tasks.
git stash pop	Apply the most recently stashed changes back to the working directory and remove them from the stash list.
git tag <tag>	Create a lightweight tag for the current commit. Use -a for annotated tags.

Git Configuration Settings

Command	Description
git config --global user.name <user>	Set the global username for commits. This is required for Git to identify you.
git config --global user.email <email>	Set the global email address for commits. This is also required for identification.
git config --global core.editor <editor>	Specify the default text editor that Git will use for commit messages and other interactive operations.
git config --global color.ui auto	Enable colored output for Git commands in the terminal, improving readability.

Remote Repository Management

Command	Description
git remote add <repository> <url>	Add a new remote repository connection, typically to a platform like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
git remote -v	List all configured remote repositories and their corresponding URLs.
git remote show <repository>	Display detailed information about a specific remote repository, including its branches and tracking configuration.
git remote rename <repository> <new_repository>	Change the name of an existing remote repository.
git remote remove <repository>	Remove a connection to a remote repository.

Understanding and utilizing these Git commands effectively is crucial for any developer. For more in-depth information, refer to the official Git documentation.