Git Commands Cheat Sheet (Sorted by Frequency of Use)

This Markdown file lists Git commands in approximate order of real-world frequency of use, starting with daily essentials and ending with niche/advanced commands.

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🔁 Everyday Essentials

git status           # Show the working tree status
git add <file>       # Stage a file
git add .            # Stage all changes
git commit -m "msg"  # Commit staged changes with message
git push             # Push changes to remote repository
git pull             # Fetch and merge from origin
git clone <url>      # Clone a remote repo

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🌿 Branching & Navigation

git branch                  # List local branches
git branch -r              # List remote branches
git branch -a              # List all branches
git branch <name>          # Create a new branch
git switch <name>          # Switch to branch (modern)
git checkout <name>        # Switch to branch (legacy)
git switch -c <name>       # Create and switch to new branch
git checkout -b <name>     # Same as above

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🔀 Merging & Rebasing

git merge <branch>                 # Merge branch into current
git merge --no-ff <branch>         # Preserve merge history
git rebase <branch>                # Reapply commits on top of another base
git rebase -i HEAD~n               # Interactive rebase

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🌎 Remote Repos

git remote -v                    # List remotes
git remote add origin <url>     # Add remote

# Push/Pull remote branches
git push origin <branch>        # Push specific branch
git push -u origin <branch>     # Push and set upstream
git fetch                       # Fetch updates
git pull origin <branch>        # Pull specific branch

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👀 Viewing Changes

git diff                        # Unstaged changes
git diff --staged              # Staged changes
git diff <branch1> <branch2>   # Compare branches
git log                        # View commit history
git log --oneline --graph      # Concise graph view

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🧹 Undo & Clean

git restore <file>             # Undo changes to file
git restore --staged <file>    # Unstage file
git reset <file>               # Unstage file (old syntax)
git reset --hard               # Discard all changes (DANGER!)
git clean -fd                  # Delete untracked files/dirs (DANGER!)

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🗑️ Deleting Branches

git branch -d <name>           # Delete local branch (safe)
git branch -D <name>           # Force delete local branch
git push origin --delete <name> # Delete remote branch

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🔍 Searching & Blame

git grep "text"                # Search in repo

git blame <file>               # Show who changed what line

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🧪 Tags & Releases

git tag                        # List tags
git tag <name>                 # Create tag
git tag -a <name> -m "msg"     # Annotated tag
git push origin <tagname>      # Push tag

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🔄 Stashing

git stash                      # Save current work

git stash apply                # Reapply latest stash
git stash pop                  # Apply and delete stash

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🧠 Advanced & Plumbing

git reflog                     # View all HEAD changes
git cherry-pick <commit>       # Apply specific commit

git bisect start               # Start binary search for bug
git submodule update --init    # Init/update submodules

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

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🧪 Low-Level / Rare

git archive                    # Create archive from repo
git gc                         # Garbage collection
git fsck                       # Check repo integrity
git filter-branch              # Rewrite history (legacy)
git worktree add <dir> <branch> # Create linked working tree

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📌 Notes

• switch and restore are modern replacements for older checkout/reset patterns.
• rebase can rewrite history—use with care on shared branches.
• reset --hard and clean are destructive—double check before running.

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✅ Pro Tip: Always git status before and after making changes!

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