10 Git Commands Every Developer Should Know

10 Git Commands Every Developer Should Know

Git is an open-source platform and a distributed version-controlled project. It enables developers to manage many versions of source code with ease. You will be able to figure out what and when the work is done and by whom. Git should be there with every developer nowadays. Git commands are required for developers to utilize Git fully. There are numerous commands in Git, but the developers utilize only a few. We will cover the top ten Git commands in this guide for taking your development to new heights.

1. Git Init

You have to create a git repository before committing or doing anything else. If you want to create a new git repository, you must use the Git init command. The subcommand refers to initialize. The initialize subcommand is helpful as it allows repository setup. The Git init command helps make all the files and directories that need to keep track of everything. The files are saved in a directory named .git. It would help if you remembered that. Represents that it will be hidden on Mac/Linux.

2. Git Clone

We will use the terminal to run the git clone, which is how the cloning is tied to Git. The git command requires a path you need to clone. It is usually a URL. You can clone anything from your GitHub or Gitlab. You will have to use the alias to ensure that you do not type the URL manually. After cloning, this will be a new directory in your computer’s root directory.

3. Git Fetch

The git fetch command is used to update your local copy of the repository with the remote copy pushed on other repositories. You need to use this command as it helps you get all of the updates on every change and commit with a single command. The git fetch basic feature of updating your local version is essential when working with Git, and it can be done without too much effort. You will be able to update your local copy of the repo by using the git fetch command and use it as a main branch as it keeps all the branches up to date.

4. Git Clone – Depth 1

You can use the option to specify how many levels of history you want Git to preserve when cloning. A repository’s history is an extensive tree structure that contains data from commits, branches, and tags. You should use this command when creating repositories for your web applications or static websites so that you do not need all of that history.

5. Git Merge

Merging allows developers to combine two different code streams into one single stream. No matter what updates and commits are made, it will not be a problem. If you want to merge all the updates, you need to use the Git merge command. This process is done at the local and remote-tracking branches level.

6. Git Stash

The Git stash command is used to save snapshots of your repository changes so that you can come back to them later or revert them easily, making it a suitable option for both small and big projects. The Git stash command works a bit like a bookmark in your browser’s page history or cache, but it saves all files you have updated in your current repo, just for that moment when you need them back again.

7. Git Branch

When you need to switch between your different scenarios quickly, the git branch command will help you do so. You can create a new branch using the git checkout -b <new-branch> command. Consider this example: using the checkout –b local-branch command. The branch is created locally and has the name local-branch, and it is directly under the current tracked branch, master.

8. Git Stash Pop

The stash pop Subcommand is used to pop a saved snapshot from the stash back into your working directory. If you delete files by mistake, you can use this command to recover them quickly. You have to use the -p option followed by the file you want to recover.

9. Git Stash Apply

The apply Subcommand is used to process the local changes added to the stash and make them available as new commits. This process is called a “squash” as it reduces all changes into one commit, simplifying your git history.

10. Git Diff – Staged

This command compares staged files before and after updates and creates a full diff for each file comparison. The staged subcommand enables developers to compare two completely different histories – one when everything was created and another when everything has already been updated.

Summary

The Git commands are very helpful in doing your work easy, and it has made a lot in the industry. You can use the git command when you want to work with code, either for private or public purposes. It is up to you how you want to use it. The Git commands you allow developers to store their code, but it also helps them share that code with other developers without getting into a mess.