README.md

Git for Noobs – Command Guide

Index

1. Initial Setup
2. Basic Commands
3. Branches
4. Commits
5. History and Diff
6. Remote Repositories
7. Undoing Changes
8. Stash and Tags
9. Merge and Rebase
10. Advanced Tips

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Initial Setup

Command	Description	Example
git config --global user.name "Name"	Set global username	git config --global user.name "John Doe"
git config --global user.email "email@example.com"	Set global email	git config --global user.email "john@example.com"
git config --list	List all configurations	git config --list
git config user.name	Show configured username	git config user.name
git config --global core.editor "vim"	Set default editor	git config --global core.editor "code"

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Basic Commands

Command	Description	Example
git init	Initialize a new Git repository	git init
git clone <url>	Clone a remote repository	git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git
git status	Show current file state	git status
git add <file>	Stage a specific file	git add main.js
git add .	Stage all modified files	git add .
git add *.js	Stage files by extension	git add *.js
git reset <file>	Remove a file from staging	git reset main.js

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Commits

Command	Description	Example
git commit -m "message"	Create a commit with message	git commit -m "Add email validation"
git commit -am "message"	Add and commit tracked files	git commit -am "Fix login bug"
git commit --amend	Modify last commit	git commit --amend --no-edit
git commit --amend -m "new message"	Change last commit message	git commit --amend -m "New title"
git commit --allow-empty -m "message"	Create empty commit (useful for CI/CD)	git commit --allow-empty -m "Trigger build"

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Branches

Command	Description	Example
git branch	List local branches	git branch
git branch -a	List local and remote branches	git branch -a
git branch <name>	Create a new branch	git branch feature/new-login
git branch -d <name>	Delete a branch	git branch -d feature/new-login
git branch -D <name>	Force delete a branch	git branch -D feature/incomplete
git branch -m <new-name>	Rename current branch	git branch -m feature/login-fix
git branch -m <old> <new>	Rename specific branch	git branch -m feature/old feature/new
git checkout <branch>	Switch to a branch	git checkout main
git checkout -b <branch>	Create and switch to branch	git checkout -b feature/new-feature
git switch <branch>	Switch branch (modern syntax)	git switch main
git switch -c <branch>	Create and switch (modern syntax)	git switch -c feature/new

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History and Diff

Command	Description	Example
git log	Show commit history	git log
git log --oneline	One-line commit history	git log --oneline
git log --graph --oneline --all	Visual branch graph	git log --graph --oneline --all
git log -n <number>	Show last N commits	git log -n 5
git log --author="Name"	Filter by author	git log --author="John"
git log --since="2 weeks ago"	Filter by time	git log --since="2 weeks ago"
git log <file>	File history	git log main.js
git log -p	Show full changes	git log -p
git show <commit>	Show commit details	git show abc123def
git diff	Show unstaged changes	git diff
git diff --staged	Show staged changes	git diff --staged
git diff <branch1> <branch2>	Compare branches	git diff main feature/new
git diff HEAD~2 HEAD	Compare commits	git diff HEAD~2 HEAD

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Remote Repositories

Command	Description	Example
git remote	List remotes	git remote
git remote -v	List remotes with URLs	git remote -v
git remote add <name> <url>	Add remote	git remote add origin https://github.com/user/repo.git
git remote remove <name>	Remove remote	git remote remove origin
git remote rename <old> <new>	Rename remote	git remote rename origin upstream
git remote set-url <name> <url>	Change remote URL	git remote set-url origin https://github.com/new/repo.git
git push <remote> <branch>	Push commits	git push origin main
git push -u <remote> <branch>	Push and set upstream	git push -u origin feature/new
git push <remote> --all	Push all branches	git push origin --all
git push <remote> <branch> --force	Force push (CAUTION!)	git push origin main --force
git pull	Pull and merge	git pull
git pull <remote> <branch>	Pull from specific remote	git pull origin main
git fetch	Fetch without merging	git fetch
git fetch <remote>	Fetch from specific remote	git fetch origin

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Undoing Changes

Command	Description	Example
git restore <file>	Discard unstaged changes	git restore main.js
git restore --staged <file>	Unstage file	git restore --staged main.js
git reset <file>	Remove from staging	git reset main.js
git reset --soft HEAD~1	Undo last commit (keep staged)	git reset --soft HEAD~1
git reset --mixed HEAD~1	Undo last commit (default)	git reset --mixed HEAD~1
git reset --hard HEAD~1	Undo last commit (discard changes)	git reset --hard HEAD~1
git reset --hard <commit>	Reset to specific commit	git reset --hard abc123def
git revert <commit>	Create revert commit	git revert abc123def
git clean -fd	Remove untracked files	git clean -fd

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Stash and Tags

Command	Description	Example
git stash	Save changes temporarily	git stash
git stash save "description"	Stash with message	git stash save "work in progress"
git stash list	List stashes	git stash list
git stash pop	Restore and remove latest stash	git stash pop
git stash apply	Restore without removing	git stash apply
git stash apply stash@{n}	Apply specific stash	git stash apply stash@{0}
git stash drop	Delete latest stash	git stash drop
git stash clear	Delete all stashes	git stash clear
git tag	List tags	git tag
git tag <name>	Create lightweight tag	git tag v1.0.0
git tag -a <name> -m "message"	Create annotated tag	git tag -a v1.0.0 -m "Version 1.0"
git push origin <tag>	Push tag	git push origin v1.0.0
git push origin --tags	Push all tags	git push origin --tags

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Merge and Rebase

Command	Description	Example
git merge <branch>	Merge into current branch	git merge feature/new
git merge --no-ff <branch>	Create merge commit	git merge --no-ff feature/new
git merge --squash <branch>	Squash commits before merge	git merge --squash feature/new
git rebase <branch>	Reapply commits on new base	git rebase main
git rebase -i HEAD~3	Interactive rebase	git rebase -i HEAD~3
git merge --abort	Abort merge	git merge --abort
git rebase --abort	Abort rebase	git rebase --abort

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Advanced Tips

Command	Description	Example
git cherry-pick <commit>	Apply specific commit	git cherry-pick abc123def
git reflog	Show reference history	git reflog
git blame <file>	Show line authorship	git blame main.js
git bisect start	Start binary search for bug	git bisect start
git grep "pattern"	Search in repository	git grep "TODO"
git alias.co checkout	Create alias	git config --global alias.co checkout
git shortlog	Commit summary by author	git shortlog

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Typical Workflow

# 1. Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/user/project.git
cd project

# 2. Create feature branch
git checkout -b feature/new-feature

# 3. Make changes and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Add new feature"

# 4. Push to remote
git push -u origin feature/new-feature

# 5. Open Pull Request on GitHub

# 6. After approval, sync main
git checkout main
git pull origin main

# 7. Optional local merge
git merge feature/new-feature

# 8. Delete branch
git branch -d feature/new-feature


## Better Commit Messages

✅ GOOD:

- "Fix authentication bug"
- "Add email validation"
- "Refactor login function"

❌ BAD:

- "fix"
- "update"
-"changes"

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Quick References

• HEAD = Current commit
• HEAD~1 = Previous commit
• HEAD~2 = 2 commits behind
• origin = Default remote repository
• main/master = Default branch

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Built to help beginners master Git!

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How to Use This Repository

1. Read the README in order: Start from setup and move to advanced topics
2. Try the commands: Use a local test repository
3. Revisit when in doubt: Forgetting is normal — practice will reinforce learning
4. Look for more resources: After the basics, explore git help and the official documentation

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Golden Tip

Git is not as complex as it seems. Most developers use only 5–10 commands in their daily workflow. The rest is for specific cases!

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Contributing

Found a mistake or have suggestions? Open an issue or submit a PR! This guide gets better with community contributions.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License — feel free to use and share!