Git CLI Documentation

Introduction

Git is a distributed version control system used to track changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to collaborate efficiently and maintain a history of changes. This documentation provides an extensive guide to using Git via the command line interface (CLI).

Installation

Basic Configuration

After installing Git, configure it with your user details:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

To check your configuration:

git config --list

Git Workflow

Initializing a Repository

To start tracking a project with Git:

git init

Cloning a Repository

To clone an existing repository:

git clone <repository-url>

Staging and Committing Changes

1. Add files to the staging area:

   git add <file>
   To add all files:

   git add .
2. Commit the changes:

   git commit -m "Commit message"

Checking Repository Status

To check the current status of your repository:

git status

Viewing Commit History

To see the commit history:

git log

Branching and Merging

Creating a New Branch

git branch <branch-name>

Switching to a Branch

git checkout <branch-name>

Or using the newer command:

git switch <branch-name>

Creating and Switching to a New Branch

git checkout -b <branch-name>

Or:

git switch -c <branch-name>

Merging Branches

Switch to the branch you want to merge into (e.g., main):

git checkout main

Then merge the other branch:

git merge <branch-name>

Remote Repositories

Adding a Remote Repository

git remote add origin <repository-url>

Pushing Changes

git push origin <branch-name>

Pulling Changes

git pull origin <branch-name>

Fetching Changes Without Merging

git fetch origin

Undoing Changes

Undo Last Commit (Keep Changes)

git reset --soft HEAD~1

Undo Last Commit (Discard Changes)

git reset --hard HEAD~1

Remove File from Staging Area

git reset <file>

Reverting a Commit

git revert <commit-hash>

Working with Tags

Creating a Tag

git tag -a <tag-name> -m "Tag message"

Listing Tags

git tag

Pushing Tags to Remote

git push origin <tag-name>

Deleting a Tag

git tag -d <tag-name>

Stashing Changes

If you need to save your work temporarily:

git stash

To apply the stashed changes:

git stash pop

Git Aliases

To create a shortcut for frequently used commands:

git config --global alias.st status
git config --global alias.co checkout

Conclusion

This documentation covers the essential Git CLI commands. For more details, refer to the official Git documentation: https://git-scm.com/doc (opens in a new tab).