Git Essentials: The commands you'll actually use as a Developer

#webdev #softwareengineering #git #tutorial

I've worked as a Software Developer and Engineer for past 9 years.
Based on my career at over 10 different companies, I've created a list of git commands that are of use in most of the normal day-to-day development:

git status: Your trusty guide. Tells you what files have been changed, added, or are untracked. Use it frequently to stay on top of your project's state.
git add .: Stages all changes in your current directory, preparing them to be included in the next commit. Remember the dot!
git commit -m "your message here": Saves your changes with a descriptive message. Good commit messages are like breadcrumbs for future you!
git checkout <branch_name>: Switches to a different branch. Think of branches like parallel universes for your code.
git checkout -: A quick way to jump back to the branch you were on previously. Like a handy "undo" button for branches.
git merge <branch_name>: Combines changes from another branch into your current one.
git pull: Fetches the latest changes from a remote repository and merges them into your current branch. Stay in sync with your team.
git reset --hard: Caution! Discards all uncommitted changes in your working directory. Use with care when you need a clean slate.
git stash: Temporarily saves your changes without committing them. Useful when you need to switch branches but aren't ready to commit yet.
git stash pop: Reapplies your stashed changes. Bring back those changes when you're ready to work on them again.
git cherry-pick -m 1 <commit_hash>: Applies a specific commit from another branch to your current branch. The -m 1 is crucial when the commit is part of a merge, ensuring you pick the correct change. Use this sparingly to avoid messy history.