Skip to main content

Git Aliases

Git aliases let you create custom shortcuts for your Git commands. They can help you save time and improve productivity. This tutorial covers some useful Git aliases and how to set them up.

Setting up Git Aliases​

To set up a Git alias, you use the git config command. Here's the basic syntax:

git config --global alias.<alias-name> <git-command>

Replace <alias-name> with the name you want for the alias and <git-command> with the command the alias should run.

Useful Git Aliases​

Here are some useful Git aliases that you can set up:

  1. Unstaged Changes: git config --global alias.diffstaged 'diff --staged' - This command will show the differences between your staged changes and the last commit.

  2. Log Graph: git config --global alias.lg 'log --oneline --graph --decorate --all' - This command will show a graph of your commits, making it easier to understand your repository's history.

  3. Checkout: git config --global alias.co 'checkout' - This command makes it quicker to checkout branches.

  4. Commit: git config --global alias.cm 'commit -m' - This command speeds up committing changes with a message.

  5. Status: git config --global alias.st 'status' - This command gives a shorter way to check the status of your repository.

Creating Custom Git Aliases​

Git aliases can save you a lot of time and typing by allowing you to create your own shortcuts for lengthy Git commands. We will guide you through the steps to create custom Git aliases.

Step 1: Open Git Config​

The first step in creating a custom Git alias is to open your Git config file. This can be done by typing the following command in your terminal:

git config --global -e

This will open your global Git configuration file in your default text editor.

Step 2: Navigate to Alias Section​

In the config file, navigate to the [alias] section. If this section doesn't exist, you can create it.

Step 3: Add Your Custom Alias​

Under the [alias] section, you can add your custom aliases. The format is aliasname = command. For example, if you want to create an alias for git status, you can do:

st = status

Now you can use git st instead of git status.

Step 4: Save and Close​

After you've added your aliases, save and close the file.

Step 5: Testing Your Alias​

To ensure your alias works correctly, open your terminal and try running your newly created alias. If it's set up correctly, Git will execute the command that your alias is set to.

Conclusion​

Git aliases are a powerful tool for making your work with Git more efficient. By creating aliases for your most frequently used commands, you can save time and make your workflow more productive. Remember, you can always create more aliases that suit your specific needs and work style.