Master Git: Understanding Key Commands for Effective Version Control
Fetch, Pull, Revert, Reset, Rebase, and Merge Explained
Git is an essential tool for developers, enabling efficient version control and collaboration. However, with its vast array of commands, it can be overwhelming for beginners to grasp their usage and implications fully.
This blog post aims to demystify six crucial Git commands by categorizing and explaining their functionalities.
fetch
pull
revert
reset
rebase
merge
Now lets dive into each command.
Please note some still images really make more sense with animation.
Fetching and Synchronizing
Fetch
The fetch command downloads objects and refs from another repository. It updates your remote-tracking branches but doesn’t merge these changes into your working files. This allows you to review changes before integrating them into your project.
Usage:
git fetch <remote>
Pull
The pull command is essentially a combination of fetch and merge. It downloads objects and refs from another repository and immediately merges them into your current branch. This is a more straightforward approach but doesn’t offer the same level of control as using fetch followed by a manual merge.
Usage:
git pull <remote> <branch>Undoing Changes
Revert
The revert command creates a new commit that undoes the changes made by a previous commit. It’s useful for reversing changes in a project while keeping a record of these reversals.
Usage:
git revert <commit>
Reset
The reset command is used to move the current branch to a different commit. Depending on the mode used (--soft, --mixed, --hard), it can also modify the index and the working directory to match the specified commit. This command is powerful but can be dangerous as it can rewrite history.
Usage:
git reset --soft|--mixed|--hard <commit>
Manipulating History
Rebase
The rebase command is used to reapply commits on top of another base tip. It’s a powerful tool for maintaining a linear project history by moving or combining a sequence of commits to a new base commit.
Usage:
git rebase <base>
Integrating Changes
Merge
The merge command joins two or more development histories together. It takes the contents of a source branch and integrates them with the current branch, creating a new merge commit in the process.
Usage:
git merge <branch>
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Here is what your learn
Introduction To Git
Anatomy of Git Commands
Creating Your First Git Repository
Tracking Changes In Git
Working With Remote Repositories
Practical Exercises
Excluding Files And Folders In Git
Taking A Closer Look At Commits
Undoing Changes In Git
Force Pushing In Git
Working With Branches
Synchronizing Changes With Remote Repositories
Working With Pull Requests
Collaborating On Pull Requests
Managing Merge Commits
Rebasing In Git
Squashing Commits In Git
Resolving Merge Conflicts
Real-World Examples Of Rebase And Conflicts
Using Git Stash
Advanced Git Techniques And Best Practices
Using Visual Studio Code With Git
Git Clients (VSCode, IntelliJ and Others)
Open Source And Collaborative Workflows
Markdown And Documentation
Using Codespaces
Continuous Integration And Deployment (CI/CD)
Enhancing Security In Git
Agile Project Management And Planning
AI-Powered Development With GitHub Copilot
See you on the next post 🤝