What is Git ( Part-1 )

In the realm of version control systems, Git stands tall as a powerful and versatile tool. 🚀 Whether you’re an aspiring developer or a seasoned pro, understanding Git commands is paramount for efficient collaboration and streamlined code management.

git Init

👋 Initializing a Git repository is super easy! Just run the “git init” command in your terminal within the desired project folder. This command sets up a new Git repository, creating the necessary hidden files and folders to start tracking changes in your project.

$ git init
# cmdInitialized empty Git repository in /path/to/your/project/.git

Now your project is ready to be version controlled with Git! 🚀

git clone

📥 Cloning a Git repository is a breeze! To create a copy of a remote repository onto your local machine, use the “git clone” command followed by the repository’s URL.

$ git clone https://github.com/MAKWritingHouse/Random-Quote.git
Cloning into 'Random-Quote'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 62, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (62/62), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (54/54), done.
remote: Total 62 (delta 15), reused 19 (delta 0), pack-reused 0Receiving objects:  54% (34/62), 188.00 KiB | 314.00 KiB/s
Receiving objects: 100% (62/62), 191.17 KiB | 327.00 KiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (15/15), done.

git add

📝 Adding changes to the staging area in Git is a crucial step! This allows you to prepare specific files for the next commit. Use the “git add” command followed by the filenames or directories you want to stage.

$ git add file1.txt file2.js

You can also use wildcards to add multiple files at once.

$ git add *.html

And to stage all changes.

$ git add .

Now your changes are ready to be committed! 😄👍

git commit

💡 Committing changes in Git solidifies your work into a new snapshot. Use the “git commit” command with the “-m” flag to provide a meaningful message explaining your changes.

$ git commit -m "Added new feature and fixed bugs"

This captures the staged changes in a commit, creating a point in history you can refer back to! 📚🔒

git status

🔍 Checking the status of your Git repository is a great habit! The “git status” command provides information about the current state of your files and branches.

$ git status
On branch main
Your branch is up-to-date with 'origin/main'.

Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  modified:   file1.txt
  modified:   file2.js

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)
  newfile.py

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

This helps you understand what’s ready for commit and what needs further action! 🕵️‍♂️📦

git diff

🔍🔄 Checking the differences between your working directory and the last commit is easy with the “git diff” command! This command displays changes that haven’t been staged yet.

$ git diff

This shows the line-by-line changes in your files, helping you understand the modifications you’ve made! 📝🔀

git log

📜 Viewing the history of commits in Git is insightful using the “git log” command! It displays a list of commits in reverse chronological order.

$ git log
commit abcdef1234567890
Author: Your Name <your@email.com>
Date:   Wed Aug 18 12:34:56 2023 +0300

    Added new feature

commit 1234567890abcdef
Author: Another User <another@email.com>
Date:   Tue Aug 17 09:00:00 2023 +0300

    Fixed bugs and improved performance

This provides a snapshot of the project’s commit history and the changes made in each commit! 🗂️📅

git checkout

🔄 Switching branches or restoring files in Git is a breeze with the “git checkout” command! To switch to a different branch, use.

$ git checkout branch_name

And to discard changes in a file.

$ git checkout -- file_name

Keep in mind that using “git checkout” to switch branches may cause you to lose uncommitted changes, so commit or stash them first! 🌳🔀

🌱 Creating and switching to a new branch in Git is super convenient using the “git checkout -b” command! This one-liner does both tasks at once.

$ git checkout -b new_branch_name

This creates a new branch and instantly switches to it, allowing you to start working on your new feature or bug fix right away! 🌟🌿

git rebase

🔄🔀 “Git rebase” is a powerful command used to integrate changes from one branch onto another, often to maintain a linear commit history. It allows you to apply the commits of one branch on top of another.

$ git rebase main

This takes the changes from the current branch and replays them on top of the “main” branch, resulting in a linear history. Remember, rebasing can rewrite commit history, so use it carefully and avoid on shared branches. 🌱🔁

this series is continued and you can learn more about this on Git’s official site