Git for Developers: A Complete Guide with Examples

1. Installing Git

Install Git on your system depending on your operating system:

Windows

Download the installer from git-scm.com and follow the setup wizard.

macOS

brew install git

Linux

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

2. Git Configuration

After installation, configure Git with your name and email:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

To check configuration:

git config --list

3. Creating a Repository

mkdir my-project
cd my-project
git init

This initializes a new Git repository in the my-project directory.

4. Basic Git Workflow

The typical workflow includes the following steps:

• Create or modify files
• Check status
• Stage changes
• Commit changes

git status
git add filename
# or all changes
git add .
git commit -m "Your commit message"

5. Working with Remote Repositories

To connect your local repo with a remote GitHub repository:

git remote add origin https://github.com/yourname/repo.git
git push -u origin main

To pull updates:

git pull origin main

6. Branching and Merging

Create and switch to a new branch:

git checkout -b new-feature

Merge it into main:

git checkout main
git merge new-feature

7. Viewing History

git log
# One line summary
git log --oneline

8. Cloning a Repository

To copy a remote repository locally:

git clone https://github.com/username/repo.git

9. Ignoring Files

Use a .gitignore file to exclude files from Git tracking:

node_modules/
.env
.DS_Store

10. Reset and Revert

Undo local changes:

git restore filename

Reset commit history (destructive):

git reset --hard HEAD~1

To safely undo a commit:

git revert HEAD

11. Git Best Practices

• Write clear commit messages
• Use branches for features/fixes
• Pull often to stay updated
• Do not commit secrets
• Use .gitignore wisely

12. Conclusion

Git is essential for modern development. Whether you're working alone or with a team, mastering Git helps you manage projects efficiently and safely. Start using Git daily and gradually explore its advanced features like rebasing, stash, and hooks.