20 Git Commands Every Developer Should Know

20 Git Commands Every Developer Should Know

Git is the version control system used by virtually every professional software team on the planet. Whether you're working solo or collaborating with a large team, mastering Git is non-negotiable. This guide covers 20 commands — organized by category — that you'll reach for day after day.

Setup & Configuration

1. git config

Set your identity before making your first commit:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"

2. git init

Initialize a new Git repository in the current directory:

git init

3. git clone

Copy an existing repository to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git

Everyday Workflow

4. git status

Check what files have changed, what's staged, and what's untracked. Run this constantly — it's your compass.

5. git add

Stage changes for the next commit. Use git add . to stage everything, or specify files individually:

git add src/app.js

6. git commit

Save a snapshot of your staged changes with a descriptive message:

git commit -m "feat: add user authentication endpoint"

7. git push

Upload your local commits to a remote repository:

git push origin main

8. git pull

Fetch and integrate changes from the remote into your current branch:

git pull origin main

Branching & Merging

9. git branch

List all branches, or create a new one:

git branch feature/login-page

10. git checkout / git switch

Switch to a different branch. Modern Git prefers git switch:

git switch feature/login-page

11. git merge

Integrate changes from one branch into the current branch:

git merge feature/login-page

12. git rebase

Reapply commits on top of another base, producing a cleaner linear history. Use carefully in shared branches:

git rebase main

Undoing Mistakes

13. git restore

Discard unstaged changes to a file (replaces the older git checkout -- file):

git restore src/app.js

14. git reset

Undo commits by moving the branch pointer. Use --soft to keep changes staged, --hard to discard them entirely:

git reset --soft HEAD~1

15. git revert

Create a new commit that undoes a previous one — the safe option for shared branches:

git revert a3f8c21

Inspecting History

16. git log

View commit history. Use --oneline --graph for a compact visual view:

git log --oneline --graph --all

17. git diff

Show differences between your working directory and the last commit, or between two commits or branches.

18. git blame

See who last modified each line of a file — useful for understanding context and history.

Advanced Utilities

19. git stash

Temporarily shelve your uncommitted changes so you can switch context, then restore them later:

git stash
git stash pop

20. git cherry-pick

Apply a specific commit from one branch onto another without merging the whole branch:

git cherry-pick a3f8c21

Quick Reference Table

Category	Commands
Setup	config, init, clone
Daily Workflow	status, add, commit, push, pull
Branching	branch, switch, merge, rebase
Undoing	restore, reset, revert
Inspection	log, diff, blame
Advanced	stash, cherry-pick

The best way to get comfortable with Git is to use it on real projects. Don't be afraid to experiment — Git almost always gives you a way back.