Git commands are a crucial part of a programmer's life.
Git is a version control system - one of the most widely used systems in the world of programming. It is especially useful to work with Git on group projects.
Git is a quite complicated system in usage, but a web developer’s life can be even more complicated without Git.
The Git commands can make a developer’s work-life more organized and constructive.
No matter you are an experienced developer or a beginner, these commands will make your work faster and will highly contribute to your success.
Let’s have a look at the Top 10 commands, that most skilled developers tend to use.
Git Init
When it comes to creating a new empty repository or reinitializing an existing one, the git init command is being used. Hence, as you start something new, consider git init as your first instinct.
Usage: git init [repository name]
Git Pull
Any developer, who is used to working with Git, can’t do without using the git pull command.
It is one of those, you need to definitely include in your daily working process.
Git pull is aimed at downloading and fetching content from the remote repository. This command combines the git fetch command followed by the git merge command.
Usage: git pull
Git Push
If you have been using Git for a long time, we are sure you have applied to the git push command quite often.
It is aimed at uploading the content of your local repository to the remote. This means that to push means to move commits from a local repository to the remote.
Anytime you push into the repository, you update it with interesting changes made by you.
Usage: git push [branch-name]
Git Add
You can use git add for making changes in the working directory to the staging area. With this command, you are informing Git about your intention to add updates to a particular file in the upcoming file.
Usage: git add [file]
Git Commit
When it comes to saving all your currently staged changes, you can use the git commit command. It is widely used for capturing the current stage of the project. The git add command is applied before git commit to make changes to the project which is going to be stored in a commit.
Usage: git commit -m ”commit-message”
Git Status
Another frequently used git command is git status. Using it you show on what state your working directory and staging area are. It is also aimed at listing the files which have to be committed.
Usage: git status
Git Branch
The next command you need to pay special attention to while working with Git is git branch. It is aimed at creating, listing and deleting branches. But you can’t switch between branches or put a different history back together. Hence, it is possible to integrate it to git merge and git checkout.
Usage: git branch [branch-name]
Git Checkout
As it was noted, the git checkout command helps to switch branches or restore files of the working tree. With this command, you can easily switch between different features in one repository. Generally, it is associated with the git clone command.
Usage: git checkout [branch-name]
Git Log
The git log command is aimed at showing the committed snapshots. It helps developers to list and filter the history of their project, as well as, search for specific changes. Note, that you can use git log only on the history that was already committed. On the contrary, the git status command is used to control the staging area and the working directory.
Usage: git log
Git Fetch
And, finally, we will explore the git fetch command.You can easily use this tool for downloading files, references and commits from a remote repository to the local one. Moreover, use this command for getting to know what other members of your group have been working on lately.
Usage: git fetch
There are more than a hundred Git commands used for different reasons and purposes. Try the basic Git commands listed above for yourself and enjoy the process.
If you want to explore more git commands with explicit description and trustworthy examples, check out this link.