Git Commands: A Quick Guide

Git is a powerful version control system used for tracking changes in code. This guide provides a concise overview of key Git commands for initializing repositories, tracking changes, and managing versions.

1. Initialize a Repository

• Create an empty repository in a new directory:
  git init repo_name

• Create a repository in the current working directory (cwd):
  git init

2. Check Repository Status

• View untracked files and pending commits:
  git status

3. Stage Files for Commit

• Add all files and folders to staging:
  git add .

• Add a specific file to staging:
  git add filename.txt

4. Commit Changes

• Commit with a message:
  git commit -m "Commit message here"

5. View Commit History

• List all commits in reverse order:
  git log

• Limit the number of commits displayed:
  git log -4

• Filter by file:
  git log filename.txt

• Filter by date range:
  git log --since='2024-04-02' --until='2024-05-03'

6. Show Specific Commit Details

• Display details of a specific commit:
  git show commit_hash

7. Compare Changes

• Compare a file with its last committed version:
  git diff filename.txt

• Compare staged changes:
  git diff --staged filename.txt

• Compare two commits:
  git diff commit1 commit2

• Compare the last commit with the previous one:
  git diff HEAD~1 HEAD

8. Revert Changes

• Revert to the latest commit:
  git revert HEAD

• Revert to the previous commit:
  git revert HEAD~1

• Skip opening the editor for a message:
  git revert HEAD --no-edit

9. Restore Files

• Restore a specific file to a previous version:
  git checkout HEAD~1 -- filename.txt

• Unstage a file:
  git restore --staged filename.txt

• Unstage all files:
  git restore --staged .

Conclusion

By mastering these essential Git commands, developers can efficiently manage their codebase, track changes, and collaborate effectively.