Git Cheat Sheet: Common Commands and Usage

Git Cheat Sheet

git version 2.36.0

Documentation Notation

<> indicates placeholders that need to be replaced.

[] indicates optional items.

| indicates alternatives.

Working tree (working directory), index (staging area), and Git directory (HEAD) correspond to the three main areas of Git.

Initial Configuration

<code>git config --global user.name [<username>]   # set user name</code>

<code>git config --global user.email [<email>]      # set user email</code>

<code>git config --global core.editor [<vim>]       # set default editor</code>

Create Project

<code>git clone <options>                           # clone remote repository</code>

<code>git init [project]                           # initialize a local repository</code>

Add & Commit

<code>git add &lt;file&gt;                               # add file to staging area</code>

<code>git commit -m &lt;commit notes&gt;                # commit staged changes with a message</code>

<code>git commit -am &lt;commit notes&gt;               # add and commit in one step</code>

<code>git commit --amend -m &lt;commit notes&gt;         # amend the previous commit</code>

Show Information

<code>git status                                   # display repository status</code>

<code>git diff [HEAD]                              # show differences</code>

<code>git log                                     # show commit log</code>

<code>git show &lt;commit&gt;                           # show details of a specific commit</code>

<code>git blame &lt;file&gt;                            # show commit info for each line of a file</code>

Revert Changes

<code>git restore &lt;file&gt;                           # discard changes in working tree</code>

<code>git restore --staged &lt;file&gt;                # unstage a file</code>

<code>git reset [--mixed] &lt;commit&gt;                # move HEAD, keep working changes</code>

<code>git reset --soft &lt;commit&gt;                   # move HEAD, keep index and working changes</code>

<code>git reset --hard &lt;commit&gt;                   # move HEAD, discard all changes</code>

<code>git rm &lt;file&gt;                               # remove file from working tree and index</code>

<code>git mv &lt;file&gt;                               # move or rename a file</code>

Branch Management

<code>git branch [--list]                         # list branches</code>

<code>git branch -a                               # list remote branches</code>

<code>git branch &lt;branch&gt;                        # create a new branch</code>

<code>git branch -d|-D &lt;branch&gt;                    # delete a branch</code>

<code>git branch -m &lt;newbranch&gt;                   # rename current branch</code>

<code>git switch &lt;branch&gt;                         # switch to an existing branch</code>

<code>git switch -c &lt;branch&gt;                      # create and switch to a new branch</code>

<code>git merge &lt;branch&gt;                         # merge a branch into current</code>

<code>git tag &lt;tagname&gt;                         # create a tag on current commit</code>

<code>git stash                                   # stash changes</code>

<code>git stash apply                             # apply stashed changes without dropping</code>

<code>git stash drop                              # delete a stash</code>

<code>git stash pop                               # apply and delete stash</code>

Remote Operations

<code>git remote -v                               # list remote repositories</code>

<code>git remote show &lt;origin&gt;                   # show details of a remote</code>

<code>git remote add &lt;origin&gt; &lt;url&gt;               # add a new remote</code>

<code>git remote rm &lt;origin&gt;                     # remove a remote</code>

<code>git remote rename &lt;oldname&gt; &lt;newname&gt;    # rename a remote</code>

<code>git pull [&lt;origin&gt; [&lt;branch&gt;]]            # fetch and merge from remote</code>

<code>git push [-u &lt;origin&gt; &lt;master&gt;]              # push local commits to remote</code>

<code>git push origin --delete &lt;branch&gt;          # delete a remote branch</code>

<code>git fetch                                   # fetch objects from remote</code>

Help

<code>git help &lt;command&gt;                         # detailed help for a command</code>

<code>git &lt;command&gt; -h                            # short help for a command</code>

Checkout (Not Recommended)

The checkout command is considered ambiguous and is discouraged.

<code>git checkout &lt;file&gt;                        # discard changes in working tree</code>

<code>git checkout -f                            # force discard changes in working tree and index</code>

<code>git checkout &lt;branch&gt;                      # switch branches</code>

<code>git checkout -b &lt;branch&gt;                   # create and switch to a new branch</code>