Top 10 Essential Git Commands for Beginners

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Git is an essential tool for modern developers, offering a powerful way to track changes in your code, collaborate with others, and manage project history. If you’re new to Git, mastering a few basic commands can take you a long way. In this post, we’ll walk through the top 10 commands that every beginner should know, along with examples and tips to help you get started confidently.

1. git init: Initialize a Repository

The git init command creates a new Git repository in your project’s directory. When you run it, Git sets up the necessary files for version control, even if they’re hidden from view.

Example:

git init

Tip: Run this command in the root folder of your project. It’s best to start with an empty folder or one that you plan to turn into a Git repository.

2. git clone: Copy an Existing Repository

The git clone command is used to copy an existing Git repository, usually from a remote server like GitHub or GitLab, to your local machine. This command is perfect when you want to start working on someone else’s code or share your code with others.

Example:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository-name.git