Best Practices for Using Git

Following best practices helps you avoid mistakes, keep your project history clean, and collaborate smoothly with others.
Here are essential tips for working with Git, whether you’re solo or on a team!

1. Commit Often, But Meaningfully

• Make small, focused commits:
  Each commit should represent a single logical change.
• Avoid huge commits:
  Large commits are hard to review and revert.
• Commit early and often:
  This makes it easier to track changes and fix mistakes.

2. Write Clear Commit Messages

• Describe what and why:
  Explain what changed and why, not just “fix” or “update”.
• Use the imperative mood:
  Example: “Add login feature” instead of “Added login feature”.
• Reference issues or tickets:
  If using issue tracking, include references (e.g., Fixes #42).

3. Use Branches for Features and Fixes

• Create a new branch for each feature or bugfix:
  Keeps work isolated and makes merging easier.
• Name branches descriptively:
  Examples: feature/login, bugfix/header, hotfix/payment-crash.

4. Pull and Merge Regularly

• Sync with the remote often:
  Use git pull to get the latest changes before starting new work.
• Resolve conflicts early:
  The longer you wait, the harder conflicts become to fix.

5. Review Before You Commit

• Check your changes:
  Use git status and git diff to review what you’re about to commit.
• Don’t commit secrets or sensitive data:
  Double-check for passwords, API keys, or private info.

6. Clean Up Branches

• Delete branches after merging:
  Keeps your repository tidy and avoids confusion.
• Remove stale or unused branches regularly.

7. Use .gitignore

• Ignore files that shouldn’t be tracked:
  Add build artifacts, logs, and environment files to .gitignore.
• Keep .gitignore up to date as your project grows.

8. Protect Important Branches

• Enable branch protection rules:
  Prevent force-pushes, require pull requests, and enforce code reviews on critical branches like main or master.

9. Test Before You Push

• Run tests and build your code before pushing:
  Avoid breaking the shared codebase.

10. Document Your Workflow

• Write down your team’s Git workflow:
  Make sure everyone knows how to branch, merge, and review code.
• Update documentation as your process evolves.

Summary Table

Tip:
Good Git habits save time, prevent headaches, and make you a better collaborator.
Practice these tips and share them with your team!