Git Commit

One of the fundamental commands in Git is git commit, which allows developers to save their changes with a descriptive message. .

1. Basic Commit:

The most straightforward use of git commit involves saving changes to the repository. After staging the changes using git add, execute the commit command:

bashCopy code
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

This creates a new commit with the specified message, marking a snapshot of the project at that point in time.

2. Amending the Last Commit:

To include changes you forgot or need to correct in the last commit, use the --amend option:

bashCopy code
git add forgotten_file.txt
git commit --amend -m "Improved description"

This command combines the staged changes with the previous commit and updates the commit message.

3. Interactive Staging:

The -p or --patch option allows you to interactively stage changes. Git prompts you for each change, giving you the option to stage, skip, or split the changes:

bashCopy code
git add -p

This feature is useful when you want to review and commit only specific parts of your modifications.

4. Committing All Changes, Including Untracked Files:

By using the -a or --all option with git commit, you can commit all changes, including modifications, deletions, and untracked files:

bashCopy code
git commit -am "Add new feature"

This is a convenient way to quickly commit all changes without explicitly using git add.

5. Committing with Date

You can set the commit date explicitly using the --date option. This is particularly useful when you need to backdate a commit or set a specific date for historical reasons:

bashCopy code
git commit --date="YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS" -m "Commit with a custom date"

6. Committing Only Staged Changes:

To commit only the changes that are already staged, excluding any unstaged modifications, use the --only option:

bashCopy code
git commit --only -m "Committing only staged changes"

7. Signing Commits:

For added security and traceability, you can sign your commits with a GPG key. Use the -S or --gpg-sign option:

bashCopy code
git commit -S -m "Signed commit"

This helps verify the authenticity of your commits.