# PowerShell Wednesday Git 101

> Source: <https://gist.github.com/ephos/382e766be45dc4f606da7c0ec3063418>
> Published: 2026-04-29 17:42:49+00:00

# PowerShell Wednesday - Git 101 

---

## `git init`

Initialize a Git directory as a repository.
`git init`

---

## `git add`

Track files with Git (A.K.A. Git now knows and cares about these files)

`git add <filename>`

or add everything in the folder

`git add .`

---

## `git commit`

Commit staged files to the repository history.

`git commit -m "your message here"`

or interactive commit message

`git commit`

---

## `git remote`

Set up a remote repository (e.g. GitHub, GitLab, etc.)
**Most SCM providers will give you the command!**

`git remote add origin <url>`

View current remotes:

`git remote -v`

---

## `git push`

Push commits to a remote repository.

`git push`

Push and set the upstream tracking reference (first push of a branch):

`git push -u origin <branch-name>`

After `-u` is set once, future pushes from that branch only need:

`git push`

---

## `git branch`, `git checkout`, and `git switch`

Create a new branch:

`git branch <branch-name>`

Switch to an existing branch:

`git checkout <branch-name>`

or _(newer syntax)_:

`git switch <branch-name>`

Create and switch in one step:

`git checkout -b <branch-name>`

or _(newer syntax)_:

`git switch -c <branch-name>`

List Branches:
`git branch`

Remove a branch:
`git branch -d <branch-name>`

---

## `git pull` and `git fetch`

Fetch any branches from origin to your local working copy:

`git fetch`

Pull any upstream changes into your working copy:

`git pull`

---

## `git checkout`

Check out a specific commit (detached HEAD state — you're looking, not working):

`git checkout <commit-hash>`

Check out a specific branch:

`git checkout <branch-name>`

---

## Git Configuration Options

```bash
# Set user and email
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

# Set your commit editor
git config --global core.editor "nvim"
```

## Git Stages

| Stage/State | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Untracked | File exists but Git has never been told about it. |
| Staged _(Indexed)_ | `git add` was run for this file and Git is now tracking it. |
| Modified _(Unstaged)_ | A committed file was edited. Git sees the difference but it is not staged yet. |
| Committed | The file has been committed with `git commit` and is now part of the repo history. |
| Ignored | Git has been instructed to ignore the file via _.gitignore_. |

## Git SCMs

Think of a Pull Request (PR) more as a "Merge Request".
Some SCM platforms like Gitlab specifically call them MRs.