Git & Terminal Basics

Git & Terminal Basics

A quick reference for the two tools you need before using any code agent. You do not need to memorize these — bookmark this page and come back when you need it.

1. Basic Git commands

Git tracks changes to your files over time. Every project you work on with a code agent should be inside a Git repository.

Command What it does Example
git init Initialize a new repository in the current folder git init
git clone <url> Download a remote repository to your machine git clone https://github.com/you/repo.git
git status Show which files have been changed or staged git status
git add <file> Stage a file to be included in the next commit git add analysis.do
git add . Stage all changed files at once git add .
git commit -m "message" Save a snapshot of your staged changes git commit -m "add baseline table"
git push Upload your commits to the remote (e.g. GitHub) git push
git pull Download and merge the latest changes from remote git pull
git log Show the commit history git log
git diff Show unstaged changes line by line git diff
git branch List all branches git branch
git checkout -b <name> Create and switch to a new branch git checkout -b new-feature
git checkout <branch> Switch to an existing branch git checkout main
git merge <branch> Merge another branch into the current one git merge new-feature

Minimal workflow for everyday use:

git add .
git commit -m "describe what you changed"
git push

2. Basic terminal commands

These are Mac/Linux (zsh/bash) commands. The terminal is where you run code agents, install tools, and navigate your file system.

Command What it does Example
pwd Print the current directory path pwd
ls List files in the current directory ls
ls -la List all files including hidden ones, with details ls -la
cd <path> Change directory cd Documents/my-project
cd .. Go up one directory level cd ..
mkdir <name> Create a new folder mkdir data
touch <file> Create a new empty file touch notes.txt
cp <src> <dest> Copy a file cp table1.tex table1_backup.tex
mv <src> <dest> Move or rename a file mv draft.do final.do
cat <file> Print the contents of a file cat config.yml
open <path> Open a file or folder in Finder open .
which <tool> Show where a command is installed which python
echo <text> Print text to the terminal echo "hello"
clear Clear the terminal screen clear

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