git_cheat_sheet.md

🚀 Git Cheat Sheet

Your quick reference to essential Git commands while developing!

---

🔧 Setup

Command	Description
git config --global user.name "Your Name"	Set your Git username
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"	Set your Git email
git config --global credential.helper store	Store GitHub password locally so you don’t enter it every time
git config --list	Check Git configuration
git --version	Show Git version

---

🛠️ Starting a Project

Command	Description
git init	Initialize a new Git repo
git clone <repo_url>	Clone a remote repo locally
git remote -v	Show remote URLs

---

📁 Staging & Committing

Command	Description
git status	See modified/added files
git add <file>	Stage a specific file
git add .	Stage all changes
git reset HEAD <file>	Unstage a file (keep changes)
git commit -m "message"	Commit staged changes with a message
git rm <file>	Remove a tracked file
git restore <file>	Discard changes to a file
git log	View commit history
git log	Press q to quit the git log

---

🔄 Working with Remotes

Command	Description
git remote add origin <url>	Link local repo to remote
git push -u origin master	Push first time with upstream tracking
git push -u origin main	Push first time with upstream tracking (for main branch)
git remote -v	Check remote
git push	Push changes to remote
git pull	Pull latest changes from remote
git pull origin <another_branch>	Pull changes from a specific branch on the remote without switching to it
git fetch	Fetch changes without merging

📝 Use git push -u origin main if your default branch is main (GitHub default since Oct 2020).
This sets the upstream so you can just run git push or git pull without specifying the branch.

---

🌿 Branching

Command	Description
git branch	List local branches
git branch <name>	Create a new branch
git branch -m <old> <new>	Rename a local branch
git checkout <name>	Switch to a branch
git checkout -b <name>	Create and switch to new branch
git merge <branch>	Merge another branch into current one
git branch -d <name>	Delete a branch

---

🌐 Remote Branch Management

Command	Description
git push origin --delete <branch>	❌ Delete a branch on remote (e.g., GitHub)
git push -u origin <new_branch>	✅ Push and track a renamed or new branch
git branch --set-upstream-to=origin/<remote_branch> <local_branch>	🔄 Set upstream remote for an existing local branch
git checkout -b <local_branch> origin/<remote_branch>	📥 Create and track a remote branch locally
git branch -vv	🔍 Check if local branch is correctly tracking remote
git branch -m <old> <new>	✏️ Rename your local branch before pushing again

---

🧹 Cleaning Up

Command	Description
git clean -fd	Remove untracked files and dirs
git reset --hard	Undo all local changes (DANGER)
git stash	Save uncommitted changes temporarily
git stash pop	Re-apply stashed changes

---

🔐 Authentication

Command	Description
Use a Personal Access Token (PAT) instead of your password for HTTPS:
Go to GitHub → Settings → Developer settings → PATs

---

📎 Extras

Tip	Command
View .gitignore -d files	git ls-files --others --ignored --exclude-standard
See changes visually	git diff
Undo last commit (keep changes)	git reset --soft HEAD~1

---

📚 Useful Git Resources

Resource	Link	Description
Official Git Book	https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2	Comprehensive and free
Git Cheatsheet	https://education.github.com/git-cheat-sheet-education.pdf	Handy commands reference
Interactive Rebase Guide	https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Tools-Rewriting-History	Deep dive into rebasing
Atlassian Git Tutorials	https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials	Clear, beginner-to-advanced

Happy coding 🚀