Git Beginner Step-by-Step Commands

1. Initialize a new Git repository

git init

Purpose:

Creates a new local Git repository inside the folder.

2. Check repository status

git status

Purpose:

Shows tracked, untracked, staged, and modified files.

3. Add a single file to staging area

git add README.md

Purpose:

Prepares README.md for commit.

4. Add another file

git add git-cheat-sheet-education.pdf

Purpose:

Adds PDF file to staging area.

5. Remove file from staging area only

git rm --cached git-cheat-sheet-education.pdf

Purpose:

Unstages the file but keeps it in the folder.

6. Create first commit

git commit -m "This is my First Commit"

Purpose:

Saves staged changes permanently in Git history.

7. Rename branch from master to main

git branch -M main

Purpose:

Changes default branch name to main.

8. Check current branch

git branch

Purpose:

Displays available branches and current branch.

9. Add remote GitHub repository

git remote add origin https://github.com/rpipaliya/practivcegit.git

Purpose:

Connects local repository with GitHub repository.

10. Verify remote repository

git remote -v

Purpose:

Shows fetch and push URLs of remote repository.

11. Push code to GitHub

git push -u origin main

Purpose:

Uploads local commits to GitHub and sets upstream branch.

12. Configure Git username globally

git config --global user.name "Rushil Pipaliya"

Purpose:

Sets author name for all Git commits.

13. Configure Git email globally

git config --global user.email "rpipaliya@stud.hs-heilbronn.de"

Purpose:

Sets author email for all Git commits.

14. Add modified file again

git add README.md

Purpose:

Stages updated changes.

15. Create second commit

git commit -m "This is my Second Commit"

Purpose:

Saves new changes in commit history.

16. Push latest changes to GitHub

git push origin main

Purpose:

Uploads latest commits to GitHub.

Useful Extra Commands

Check complete commit history

git log

Purpose:

Shows all commits with commit IDs.

Show short commit history

git log --oneline

Purpose:

Displays compact commit history.

Clone existing repository

git clone

Purpose:

Downloads repository from GitHub to local machine.

Pull latest changes from GitHub

git pull origin main

Purpose:

Downloads and updates latest changes from remote repository.

Show differences in files

git diff

Purpose:

Displays unstaged file changes.

Unstage a file

git restore --staged

Purpose:

Removes file from staging area.

Delete a tracked file

git rm

Purpose:

Removes file from Git and local folder.