Git Fundamentals

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Git

1. What is Git?

• Git is a distributed version control system for tracking changes in code, enabling collaboration, and managing project history.

• Every user has a full local copy of the repository.

2. Key Concepts

• Repository (Repo): Where your project files and history live (local or remote).

• Commit: A snapshot of changes with a unique hash.

• Branch: A separate line of development (default is often main).

• Merge: Combines changes from one branch into another.

• Rebase: Moves or “replays” commits from one branch onto another, creating a linear history.

• Staging Area: Prepares changes for a commit.

• Clone: Copies a remote repo locally.

• Push/Pull: Syncs changes with a remote repo.

3. Basic Git Workflow

git init: Starts a new repo.

git status: Checks the current state.

git add <file> or git add .: Stages changes.

git commit -m "message": Commits staged changes.

git push  :Syncs changes with a remote repo.

git log: Views commit history.

4. Branching and Merging

Create Branch: git branch <branch-name>

Switch Branch: git checkout <branch-name> (or git switch <branch-name>)

Merge: git merge <branch-name>

Delete Branch: git branch -d <branch-name>

5. Rebasing

• What is Rebasing? Rebasing rewrites commit history by moving your branch’s commits onto the tip of another branch. It avoids merge commits for a cleaner history.

• Command: git rebase <branch-name> (e.g., git rebase main applies your current branch’s commits on top of main).

• Interactive Rebasing: git rebase -i <commit-hash> lets you edit, squash, or reorder commits.

• Resolve Conflicts: If conflicts arise, fix them, then git rebase --continue.

6. Remote Repositories

git clone <url>: Copies a remote repo.

git remote add origin <url>: Links to a remote.

git push origin <branch-name>: Uploads changes.

git pull origin <branch-name>: Downloads updates.

7. Undoing Changes

git restore <file>: Discards unstaged changes.

git reset --soft HEAD^: Undoes last commit, keeps changes.

git revert <commit-hash>: Creates a new commit undoing a previous one.

8. Common Commands

git diff: Shows changes.

git fetch: Downloads remote updates without merging.

git stash: Shelves uncommitted changes.