The Top 20 Git Commands Every Programmer Should Know

When it comes to version control systems, Git stands tall as one of the most popular and powerful tools out there. It's an indispensable part of the workflow for developers across the globe, and mastering Git is a must for anyone working on software projects. Whether you're just starting out or you've been using Git for years, there are always new commands and techniques to learn. In this blog post, we'll cover the top 20 Git commands that every programmer should know.

1. git init

When you start a new project, you'll want to initialize a Git repository in the project directory. This command sets up all the necessary Git files and folders.

bash
git init

2. git clone

If you're working with an existing repository, you can clone it to your local machine with this command. This downloads the entire repository, including all the files and history.

bash
git clone <url>

3. git add

Once you've made changes to your files, you need to tell Git which changes to include in the next commit. This command adds the changes to the staging area.

bash
git add <file>

4. git status

To see the current status of your repository, including which files have changed and which are staged for commit, use this command.

bash
git status

5. git commit

After you've added your changes to the staging area, you can commit them to the repository with this command. Be sure to include a descriptive commit message!

bash
git commit -m "Your commit message here"

6. git push

If you're working on a shared repository, you'll want to push your changes to the remote repository with this command.

bash
git push

7. git pull

If there have been changes to the remote repository since your last pull, you can use this command to fetch the changes and merge them into your local branch.

bash
git pull

8. git branch

To see a list of all the branches in your repository, use this command.

bash
git branch

9. git checkout

To switch to a different branch, use this command. You can also use it to create a new branch.

bash
git checkout <branchname>

10. git merge

To merge changes from one branch into another, use this command. This is especially useful when working with feature branches.

bash
git merge <branchname>

11. git log

To see a list of all the commits in your repository, use this command. This is a great way to track down when a bug was introduced.

bash
git log

12. git diff

To see the differences between your working directory and the staging area, use this command.

bash
git diff

13. git tag

To create a new tag in your repository, use this command. Tags are often used to mark releases.

bash
git tag <tagname>

14. git fetch

To fetch changes from a remote repository without merging them, use this command.

bash
git fetch

15. git revert

To revert a commit, use this command. This creates a new commit that undoes the changes from the specified commit.

bash
git revert <commit>

16. git reset

To reset your working directory to a previous state, use this command. Be careful, as this command can be destructive!

bash
git reset <commit>

17. git rebase

To rebase your current branch onto another branch, use this command. This is useful for cleaning up your commit history.

bash
git rebase <branchname>

18. git cherry-pick

To apply a commit from one branch to another, use this command.

bash
git cherry-pick <commit>

19. git stash

To temporarily save changes that aren't ready to be committed, use this command. This is useful when you need to switch branches or pull changes from a remote repository.

bash
git stash

20. git submodule

To add a submodule to your repository, use this command. Submodules are useful for including external projects in your repository.

bash
git submodule add <url>

There you have it, the top 20 Git commands every programmer should know. Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned pro, mastering Git is essential for modern software development.