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Sakthivel R
Sakthivel R

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Step-by-Step Git Commands for First-Time Repo Setup(with GitHub)

🚀 Git- Git Basics for Beginners

*👨‍💻 By Sakthivel R

Hey developers! 👋

Here’s a beginner-friendly walk-through of basic Git commands, perfect if you're just starting out or brushing up for placements or projects. This was part of my Day assignment, and I thought it’d be helpful to share it with the dev community too. Let’s go! 💻✨

🔧 Step-by-Step Git Commands

1️⃣ Initialize a Git Repository 

git init
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This command initializes a new Git repository in your current directory. For example, it creates a repo in a folder like 24MCR086.

2️⃣ Add a File to Staging Area 

git add 24MCR086.txt
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This stages a specific file (24MCR086.txt) for commit.

Want to stage everything in the folder? Use:

git add .
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3️⃣ Commit the File 

git commit -m "Added Personal Details"
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This creates a commit with a custom message. Make your commit messages meaningful so others can follow your changes easily.

4️⃣ Check Git Status 

git status
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This shows the current state of your working directory and staged files. For example, it will show if 24MCR086.txt is modified but not staged.

5️⃣ View Commit Log 

git log
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Want to see the history of commits? This command displays all your previous commits.

6️⃣ Add Remote GitHub Repository 

git remote add origin https://github.com/DeveloperSakthi/24MCR086.git
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This links your local Git repo to a remote GitHub repository. (Replace with your repo URL.)

7️⃣ Check the Current Branch 

git branch
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Displays your current branch. Initially, it might show master.

8️⃣ Rename Branch from master to main 

git branch -M main
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Renames the current branch from master to main.

Want to rename back to master? You can use:

git branch -M master
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9️⃣ Set Global Git Config (One-time Setup) 

git config --global user.email "sakthivelravi9894@gmail.com"
git config --global user.name "DeveloperSakthi"
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This sets your identity for all Git projects on your system. You only need to do this once!

🔟 Push Code to Remote Repo 

git push -u origin main
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Pushes the local main branch to GitHub and sets it to track the remote branch.

🔁 Making More Changes?

Once you've made more changes or added new files, you can follow this pattern again:

git add .
git commit -m "Your next update message"
git push origin main
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💡 Final Thoughts

That’s it for Day 1! These are your Git essentials. Trust me, once you get these basics down, version control becomes your best friend — especially in collaborative coding or project development 🚀

If you found this helpful or want me to share more Git or dev-related content, drop a ❤️ or comment!

Happy coding! 👨‍💻💥

– Sakthivel R

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karthikio profile image
karthik santhosh •

Nice content Sakthi 🙌🏽