Basic Git commands

Question 1

Initializes a brand new Git repository and begins tracking an existing directory. It adds a hidden subfolder within the existing directory that houses the internal data structure required for version control.

Answer 1

git init

Question 2

Creates a local copy of a project that already exists remotely. The clone includes all the project’s files, history, and branches.

Answer 2

git clone

Question 3

Stages a change. Git tracks changes to a developer’s codebase, but it’s necessary to stage and take a snapshot of the changes to include them in the project’s history. This command performs staging, the first part of that two-step process. Any changes that are staged will become a part of the next snapshot and a part of the project’s history. Staging and committing separately gives developers complete control over the history of their project without changing how they code and work.

Answer 3

git add

Question 4

Saves the snapshot to the project history and completes the change-tracking process. In short, a commit functions like taking a photo. Anything that’s been staged with git add will become a part of the snapshot with git commit.

Answer 4

git commit

Question 5

Shows the status of changes as untracked, modified, or staged.

Answer 5

git status

Question 6

Shows the branches being worked on locally.

Answer 6

git branch

Question 7

Merges lines of development together. This command is typically used to combine changes made on two distinct branches. For example, a developer would merge when they want to combine changes from a feature branch into the main branch for deployment.

Answer 7

git merge

Question 8

Updates the local line of development with updates from its remote counterpart. Developers use this command if a teammate has made commits to a branch on a remote, and they would like to reflect those changes in their local environment.

Answer 8

git pull

Question 9

Updates the remote repository with any commits made locally to a branch.

Answer 9

git push