Git Commands Cheat Sheet: The Only Reference You Need

Git is the backbone of modern software development. This cheat sheet covers every command you'll need in daily work — from basic commits to hairy rebase scenarios.

Setup & Configuration

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
git config --global init.defaultBranch main
git config --list  # show all settings

Starting a Repository

git init                    # create a new repo
git clone <url>             # clone an existing repo
git clone -b <branch> <url> # clone a specific branch

Staging & Committing

git status                  # what changed?
git add <file>              # stage a file
git add -p                  # stage interactively (hunks)
git commit -m "message"     # commit staged changes
git commit -am "message"    # add tracked files AND commit
git commit --amend          # fix the last commit message

Branching

git branch                  # list local branches
git branch <name>           # create a branch
git checkout <name>         # switch to a branch
git checkout -b <name>      # create AND switch
git switch <name>           # modern way to switch
git switch -c <name>        # modern create + switch
git merge <branch>          # merge branch into current
git branch -d <name>        # delete a branch (safe)
git branch -D <name>        # force delete

Undoing Things

git restore <file>          # discard working changes
git restore --staged <file> # unstage a file
git reset --soft HEAD~1     # undo last commit, keep changes staged
git reset --hard HEAD~1     # undo last commit, discard changes (DANGER)
git revert <commit>         # safe undo — creates a new commit
git stash                    # save uncommitted changes
git stash pop                # restore stashed changes

Remote Repositories

git remote -v                        # list remotes
git remote add origin <url>          # add a remote
git push origin main                 # push to remote
git push -u origin main              # push and set upstream
git pull origin main                 # fetch + merge
git fetch origin                     # fetch without merging
git push origin --delete <branch>    # delete remote branch

Log & History

git log --oneline --graph --all      # pretty history graph
git log -p <file>                    # see changes to a file
git blame <file>                     # who changed what line
git diff                             # unstaged changes
git diff --staged                    # staged changes
git show <commit>                    # details of a commit

Advanced: Interactive Rebase

git rebase -i HEAD~3                 # squash/reword last 3 commits
git rebase -i --autosquash           # auto-squash fixup commits
git rebase --continue | --abort | --skip

Quick Reference Card

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