Version: Jun 28, 2026
TLDR: Lets talk about Git commands for linux terminal and git ignore file.
I think like most people, we all end up using GUI applications (like SmartGit or Git-Fork) to do our git actions. In this blog post, I want to provide some stragiht forward commands to let you move on to the next thing in your jou Journey.
Also some nice to knows about the .gitignore file that beginners may like to know quickly.
# Show the current branch | git branch --show-current |
# Show local changes before switching branches | git status |
# Fetch latest remote branch info and prune deleted remote branches | git fetch --prune origin |
# Switch to main | git switch main |
# Older syntax for switching to main | git checkout main |
# Pull latest main from origin | git pull origin main |
# Create local main if it does not exist yet | git switch -c main --track origin/main |
# Confirm the working tree is clean | git status |
# Show the latest commits | git log --oneline -5 |
# Show the current branch | git branch --show-current |
# Show local changes before switching branches | git status |
# Fetch latest remote branch info and prune deleted remote branches | git fetch --prune origin |
# Local Branches. Anything marked with '[gone]' means its locally exists only. | git branch -vv |
# Remote Branches. | git branch -r |
# Both Local and Remote Branches | git branch -a |
# Good old force delete of local branches (only if your 100% sure) | git branch -D NameOfBranch |
# Switch to an existing branch, only if it already exists on your system | git switch branch-name |
# pulling a new branch from origin | git switch -c NameOfYourBranch --track origin/NameOfYourBranch |
# Older syntax for switching to an existing branch | git checkout branch-name |
# Pull latest branch from origin | git pull origin branch-name |
# Create a local branch tracking a remote branch | git switch -c branch-name --track origin/branch-name |
# Show all local branches | git branch |
# Show local and remote branches | git branch -a |
# Confirm the working tree is clean | git status |
# Show the latest commits | git log --oneline -5 |
/folder/*
!/folder/keep-me.txt
**/folder/*
Without the /* at the end, it'll ignore everything regardless if you ass to negate ignore with the !
Lots of projects and sites usually give you a .gitignore ready to go to easily kick off your project, even by language type. Eg, starting a Rust project versus C# project, different things are ignored. How and where? When creating a project in GitHub, you'll see your repo being kicked off with a chance to select a pre-made gitignore file for you.
Anyways! Below is a taste just in case you don't run into this. This really serves beginners, but you beginner, I recommend heading to GitHub and start playing around with your first repo.