Master Git — It's Easier Than You Think!

Sat, April 26, 2025 - 2 min read
Master Git

💡 Master Git — A Fundamental Skill

Every time I interview someone, I’m surprised when a developer doesn’t know Git.
You don’t need to be an expert, but every developer should know the basics.


🤦 Why Is Git So Important?

  • You’ll work more effectively in a team.
  • You’ll be more confident in interviews.
  • You’ll move faster with features, bugs, and branches.
  • And most importantly — you won’t fear making a commit.

🧰 19 Essential Git Commands Explained

git init

Initialize a new repository.


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

Clone a remote repository.


git status

Check the current status of files.


git add .

Add all changes to the staging area.


git commit -m "Message"

Commit changes with a message.


git log

View commit history.


git diff

See differences between the working directory and the index.


git checkout branch-name

Switch to another branch.


git branch

List all local branches.


git branch branch-name

Create a new branch.


git merge branch-name

Merge a branch into the current one.


git pull

Fetch and merge changes from the remote repository.


git push

Push changes to the remote repository.


git stash

Stash current changes without committing.


git reset --hard

Reset the working directory to the last commit (caution!).


git rebase branch-name

Move current branch changes on top of another branch.
Example: git rebase main brings your branch up to date with main.


git rebase -i HEAD~3

Interactive rebase of the last 3 commits, for example to squash.


# In interactive rebase
pick a1b2c3 First commit
squash d4e5f6 Second commit (will be combined)

Squash: combine multiple commits into one.


git revert <hash>

Create a new commit that reverts the specified one (without erasing history).


🎤 Share It With Others

Want to remember it better? Host a mini-meetup:

  • Prepare a short presentation with these 15 commands.
  • Show examples live.
  • Share real cases where Git saved your day.

📌 Even in a team of just 3 — this helps everyone grow.


🧪 A Trainer That Really Helps

Want to practice Git hands-on?
Here’s a fantastic interactive tool:

👉 learngitbranching.js.org

  • Visualizes how branch, merge, and rebase work.
  • Offers step-by-step tasks with hints.
  • Great for learning both basics and advanced use cases.

📌 Complete the first 3–4 levels — Git will finally make sense.


🎯 Git Is Simple

If you’re still confused by add, commit, and pull,
today is the perfect day to master them.

  • Start with git status.
  • Create a test repository.
  • Try commands one by one.
  • Launch the trainer 👉 learngitbranching.js.org

Good luck! And may merge conflicts only appear on holidays 😄