Day To Day Git Version Control

---
name: day-to-day-git-version-control
description: "Git commits, branches, rebases, merges, conflict resolution, history recovery, team workflows, and the commands needed for safe day-to-day version control. Use when (1) the task touches Git, a repository, commits, branches, merges, rebases, or pull requests; (2) history safety,…"
category: "Productivity"
author: community
version: "1.0.8"
icon: check-square
---

## When to Use

Use when the task involves Git repositories, branches, commits, merges, rebases, pull requests, conflict resolution, history inspection, or recovery. This skill is stateless and should be applied by default whenever Git work is part of the job.

## Quick Reference

| Topic | File |
|-------|------|
| Essential commands | `commands.md` |
| Advanced operations | `advanced.md` |
| Branch strategies | `branching.md` |
| Conflict resolution | `conflicts.md` |
| History and recovery | `history.md` |
| Team workflows | `collaboration.md` |

## Core Rules

1. **Never force push to shared branches** — Use `--force-with-lease` on feature branches only
2. **Commit early, commit often** — Small commits are easier to review, revert, and bisect
3. **Write meaningful commit messages** — First line under 72 chars, imperative mood
4. **Pull before push** — Always `git pull --rebase` before pushing to avoid merge commits
5. **Clean up before merging** — Use `git rebase -i` to squash fixup commits

## Team Workflows

**Feature Branch Flow:**
1. `git checkout -b feature/name` from main
2. Make commits, push regularly
3. Open PR, get review
4. Squash and merge to main
5. Delete feature branch

**Hotfix Flow:**
1. `git checkout -b hotfix/issue` from main
2. Fix, test, commit
3. Merge to main AND develop (if exists)
4. Tag the release

**Daily Sync:**
```bash
git fetch --all --prune
git rebase origin/main  # or merge if team prefers
```

## Commit Messages

- Use conventional commit format: `type(scope): description`
- Keep first line under 72 characters
- Types: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `style`, `refactor`, `test`, `chore`

## Push Safety

- Use `git push --force-with-lease` instead of `--force` — prevents overwriting others' work
- If push rejected, run `git pull --rebase` before retrying
- Never force push to main/master branch

## Conflict Resolution

- After editing conflicted files, verify no markers remain: `grep -r "<<<\|>>>\|===" .`
- Test that code builds before completing merge
- If merge becomes complex, abort with `git merge --abort` and try `git rebase` instead

## Branch Hygiene

- Delete merged branches locally: `git branch -d branch-name`
- Clean remote tracking: `git fetch --prune`
- Before creating PR, rebase feature branch onto latest main
- Use `git rebase -i` to squash messy commits before pushing

## Safety Checklist

Before destructive operations (`reset --hard`, `rebase`, `force push`):

- [ ] Is this a shared branch? → Don't rewrite history
- [ ] Do I have uncommitted changes? → Stash or commit first
- [ ] Am I on the right branch? → `git branch` to verify
- [ ] Is remote up to date? → `git fetch` first

## Common Traps

- **git user.email wrong** — Verify with `git config user.email` before important commits
- **Empty directories** — Git doesn't track them, add `.gitkeep`
- **Submodules** — Always clone with `--recurse-submodules`
- **Detached HEAD** — Use `git switch -` to return to previous branch
- **Push rejected** — Usually needs `git pull --rebase` first
- **stash pop on conflict** — Stash disappears. Use `stash apply` instead
- **Large files** — Use Git LFS for files >50MB, never commit secrets
- **Case sensitivity** — Mac/Windows ignore case, Linux doesn't — causes CI failures

## Recovery Commands

- Undo last commit keeping changes: `git reset --soft HEAD~1`
- Discard unstaged changes: `git restore filename`
- Find lost commits: `git reflog` (keeps ~90 days of history)
- Recover deleted branch: `git checkout -b branch-name <sha-from-reflog>`
- Use `git add -p` for partial staging when commit mixes multiple changes

## Debugging with Bisect

Find the commit that introduced a bug:
```bash
git bisect start
git bisect bad                    # current commit is broken
git bisect good v1.0.0            # this version worked
# Git checks out middle commit, test it, then:
git bisect good                   # or git bisect bad
# Repeat until Git finds the culprit
git bisect reset                  # return to original branch
```

## Quick Summary

```bash
git status -sb                    # short status with branch
git log --oneline -5              # last 5 commits
git shortlog -sn                  # contributors by commit count
git diff --stat HEAD~5            # changes summary last 5 commits
git branch -vv                    # branches with tracking info
git stash list                    # pending stashes
```

## Related Skills
Install with `clawhub install <slug>` if user confirms:
- `gitlab` — GitLab CI/CD and merge requests
- `docker` — Containerization workflows
- `code` — Code quality and best practices

## Feedback

- If useful: `clawhub star git`
- Stay updated: `clawhub sync`