Git Commands Reference

Clean, task-based cheat sheet for setting up local repos, syncing with GitHub, and using the GitHub CLI.

Clone repository

git clone https://github.com/USER/REPO.git

Purpose: Download a remote repository into a new local folder
When to use: When you want a fresh local copy of an existing repo
Risk notes: Fails if the destination folder already exists and is not empty

git clone https://github.com/USER/REPO.git my-local-folder

Purpose: Clone a repository into a specific local folder name
When to use: When you don’t want the folder name to default to the repo name
Risk notes: If the folder exists, cloning may fail or create nested content depending on your path

Local repo setup

git init

Purpose: Initialize a new local Git repository
When to use: First step in an empty folder
Risk notes: None

Branch naming

git branch -M main

Purpose: Rename current branch to main
When to use: After init, before first push
Risk notes: Renames locally

git branch -M produccion

Purpose: Rename current branch to produccion
When to use: After init, before first push
Risk notes: Renames locally

Create first file

touch README.md

Purpose: Create an initial file to commit
When to use: When folder has no files
Risk notes: None

Stage files

git add .

Purpose: Stage all changes in the folder
When to use: Before committing
Risk notes: Can stage unwanted files

Commit

git commit -m "Initial commit"

Purpose: Create a commit from staged files
When to use: After staging
Risk notes: None

Status check

git status

Purpose: Show staged, unstaged, untracked changes
When to use: Anytime
Risk notes: None

Remote check

git remote -v

Purpose: List configured remotes and URLs
When to use: Before adding or changing remotes
Risk notes: None

Remote setup

git remote add origin https://github.com/USER/REPO.git

Purpose: Add GitHub remote named origin
When to use: After repo exists on GitHub
Risk notes: Fails if origin already exists

Push first time

git push -u origin main

Purpose: Push main and set upstream
When to use: First publish of main
Risk notes: None

git push -u origin produccion

Purpose: Push produccion and set upstream
When to use: First publish of produccion
Risk notes: None

Force push

git push --force origin main

Purpose: Overwrite remote main with local main
When to use: Only when intentionally replacing remote history
Risk notes: Destructive if remote has commits

Pull with rebase

git pull --rebase origin main

Purpose: Update local branch by rebasing on remote
When to use: When remote already has commits
Risk notes: Rewrites local commits during rebase