Git & GitHub Command Cheat Sheet: From Basics to Advanced

🔹 Basic Workflow

=> These are the everyday Git commands you’ll use to track changes and sync with GitHub:

git init → Initialize a new Git repository
git clone [url] → Download a project from GitHub
git add [file] → Stage a specific file for commit
git add . → Stage all changes for commit
git commit -m "message" → Commit staged changes
git push origin [branch] → Push commits to remote
git pull origin [branch] → Pull latest changes

🔹 Branch Masters

=> Branching lets you work on features independently without affecting main code:

git branch → List all branches
git branch [name] → Create new branch
git checkout [branch] → Switch to branch
git merge [branch] → Merge branch into current
git branch -d [branch] → Delete branch locally
git push origin --delete [branch] → Delete remote branch

🔹 History Explorers

=> Explore and understand the history of your codebase:

git log --oneline → Compact commit history
git log --graph --oneline --all → Visual commit tree
git show [commit] → Show changes in specific commit
git diff → Show unstaged changes
git diff --staged → Show staged changes
git blame [file] → See who changed each line

🔹 Undo Artists

=> Made a mistake? No worries, Git’s got your back:

git reset --soft HEAD^ → Undo commit, keep changes staged
git reset --hard HEAD^ → Remove last commit completely
git checkout -- [file] → Discard changes in working directory
git revert [commit] → Create new commit that undoes changes
git clean -fd → Remove untracked files & directories

🔹 GitHub Collaborators

=> For open-source contributions or working in teams:

git fork → Create a personal copy of repository
git remote add upstream [url] → Add original repo as upstream
git fetch upstream → Get updates from original repo
git push -u origin [branch] → Push & set upstream branch
git pull --rebase upstream main → Update fork with rebase

🔹 Stash & Cleanup

=> When you need to pause work without committing:

git stash → Temporarily store changes
git stash pop → Restore most recent stash
git stash list → View all stashes
git stash drop → Delete most recent stash
git prune → Remove unreachable objects

🔹 Tagging & Releases

=> Tags are great for marking releases:

git tag [name] → Create lightweight tag
git tag -a [version] -m "message" → Annotated tag
git push origin --tags → Push all tags to remote
git tag -d [name] → Delete local tag
git push origin --delete tag [name] → Delete remote tag

🔹 Advanced Tools

=> Powerful commands for debugging and history management:

git bisect → Binary search to find buggy commit
git rebase -i [commit] → Interactive rebase (rewrite history)
git cherry-pick [commit] → Apply specific commit to current branch
git reflog → Show reference log (lifesaver for recovery)
git worktree add → Add additional working trees

🔹 Configuration

=> Personalize Git to fit your workflow:

git config --global user.name "Name" → Set global username
git config --global user.email "email" → Set global email
git config --global core.editor "code --wait" → Use VS Code as editor
git config --global alias.co checkout → Create shortcuts
git config --list → Show all configurations

# Final Thoughts

Git is powerful, but it can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out. Bookmark this cheat sheet and use it as a quick reference whenever you’re stuck.

Git & GitHub Command Cheat Sheet: From Basics to Advanced

Whether you’re a beginner just getting started with Git or an experienced developer who needs quick reference, this Git & GitHub Cheat Sheet has you covered.

# Final Thoughts