git init: Initialize a new repository. | git clone : Clone a remote repository. | git remote -v: Show current remotes.

git branch: List local branches. | git branch -a: List local and remote branches. | git checkout -b : Create and switch to a new branch.

git status: Show working tree status. | git add .: Stage all changes. | git add -p: Stage changes interactively.

git log --oneline --graph --decorate: Compact, visual history. | git diff: Show unstaged changes. | git diff --staged: Show staged changes.

git restore : Discard unstaged changes in a file. | git reset HEAD : Unstage a file. | git revert : Create a new commit that reverses a commit.

Git Cheatsheet

Essential Git commands for daily work. Learn how to move fast, keep history clean, and recover safely.

When This Page Is Most Useful

This cheatsheet is most useful during everyday feature work, code review cleanup, and recovery after a mistaken reset, rebase, or merge. It focuses on commands developers actually reach for under pressure.

Create & Clone

Key / Code	Description
git init	Initialize a new repository.
git clone <url>	Clone a remote repository.
git remote -v	Show current remotes.
git remote add origin <url>	Add a remote named origin.

Branching

Key / Code	Description
git branch	List local branches.
git branch -a	List local and remote branches.
git checkout -b <name>	Create and switch to a new branch.
git merge <branch>	Merge a branch into the current branch.

Stage & Commit

Key / Code	Description
git status	Show working tree status.
git add .	Stage all changes.
git add -p	Stage changes interactively.
git commit -m "msg"	Commit staged changes.

Inspect History

Key / Code	Description
git log --oneline --graph --decorate	Compact, visual history.
git diff	Show unstaged changes.
git diff --staged	Show staged changes.
git show <commit>	Show a specific commit.

Undo Safely

Key / Code	Description
git restore <file>	Discard unstaged changes in a file.
git reset HEAD <file>	Unstage a file.
git revert <commit>	Create a new commit that reverses a commit.
git reflog	Find lost commits after reset or rebase.

Daily Flow

A clean daily workflow keeps history readable and reduces merge pain.

git checkout -b feature/login
# work...
git add -p
git commit -m "Add login form"

git pull --rebase origin main
# resolve conflicts if any
git push -u origin feature/login

Common Git Mistakes

The most expensive Git mistakes come from using destructive commands without checking status, branch, and remote state first. Before reset, rebase, or force push, confirm what is staged, what branch you are on, and whether commits already exist on a shared remote.

Advanced Git workflows

Go deeper into rebasing, history cleanup, and collaboration patterns after the basics.

SSH setup for Git remotes

Useful when cloning, pushing, or fixing authentication with remote repositories.

Cron for Git automation tasks

Schedule repository maintenance, backup jobs, or reporting tasks on servers.

Docker workflows in source-controlled projects

Common when application code, infrastructure, and container configs live in the same repo.

Knowledge is power.