Version control is a fundamental skill for any developer, and Git is the most widely used version control system. In this post, we'll cover the essential Git commands that every developer should know.
1. git init
Purpose: Initialize a new repository.
The git init command is the starting point for any new project. It initializes a new Git repository in your current directory, setting up the necessary files and structures to track your project.
git init
After running this command, Git will create a hidden .git directory in your project folder, which contains all the metadata for your repository.
2. git add
Purpose: Inform Git about updates.
Whenever you make changes to your files, you need to add them to the staging area before committing. The git add command does just that.
git add <file-name>
You can also add all changes in the current directory by using:
git add .
This tells Git to include these changes in the next commit.
3. git commit
Purpose: Save changes.
Once your changes are staged, use the git commit command to save them. Each commit captures the state of your project at a specific point in time.
git commit -m "Your commit message"
The -m flag allows you to add a descriptive message, making it easier to understand the changes made in that commit.
4. git status
Purpose: Check the status of your working directory.
The git status command gives you an overview of your current branch, including which files are staged for commit, which aren’t, and which files aren’t being tracked by Git.
git status
This command helps you keep track of what’s happening in your repository at any given time.
5. git push
Purpose: Push changes from your local repository to a remote repository.
After committing your changes, you can share them with others using the git push command.
git push origin <branch-name>
This command pushes your commits from the local repository to the remote repository (e.g., GitHub, GitLab).
6. git pull
Purpose: Download updates from a remote repository.
To stay updated with the latest changes from your remote repository, use the git pull command.
git pull origin <branch-name>
This command fetches and integrates changes from the remote repository into your local branch.
Conclusion
By mastering these six essential Git commands, you can efficiently manage your project’s version control.
Happy coding! 🚀
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