Essential Git Commands Every Software Tester Should Know

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If you are a QA engineer - manual or automation - knowing a few Git commands can make your work smoother and more efficient. Git is a powerful distributed version control system used for tracking changes in source code during software development. As a tester, understanding how to navigate and interact with the codebase using Git is becoming increasingly essential.

These commands will help you:

  • Stay in sync with developers
  • Manage your code effectively
  • Avoid last-minute surprises before releases

Below are the essential Git commands, their purpose, and usage tips.

Below are the additional details to help you understand their context and application.

1. Create Local Copy of Repository

  • Command: git clone <repository_url>
  • Purpose: To create a local copy of a remote repository. This is usually the first step when you start working on a project – you download the entire project history and files to your machine.
  • Usage Tips: Use HTTPS for easier authentication. (Using SSH keys is another common method, often preferred for security and convenience after initial setup.

2. List All Branches

  • Command: git branch
  • Purpose: To list all branches. Branches in Git allow multiple lines of development to exist simultaneously, which is fundamental to collaborative work. Knowing the branches helps you understand different versions or feature lines being developed.
  • Usage Tips: Add -a to see remote branches too. Remote branches show you the state of branches on the remote repository (like GitHub or GitLab).

3. Create and Switch to Test Branch

  • Command: git checkout -b <new_branch_name>
  • Purpose: To create and switch to a new test branch. It's often best practice for testers to work on their own branch, especially when making changes to test scripts or configuration, to isolate their work from the main development line. This command is a shortcut for creating a new branch and then immediately switching your working directory to that branch.
  • Usage Tips: Name branches with a test-* prefix. This helps identify the branch's purpose.

4. Upload Changes to Remote Repo

  • Command: git push
  • Purpose: To upload changes from your local repository to the remote repository. After you've made commits locally, git push sends those committed changes to the shared remote repository, making them available to others.
  • Usage Tips: Use -f carefully (force push). Force pushing can overwrite history on the remote, which is generally discouraged unless you understand the implications and are sure no one else is working on that branch .

5. Fetch Latest Code for Testing

  • Command: git pull
  • Purpose: To fetch the latest code for testing. This command is essentially a combination of git fetch (which downloads changes from the remote but doesn't apply them) and git merge (which integrates the fetched changes into your current branch) . It ensures your local copy is up-to-date with the remote.
  • Usage Tips: Run before starting new tests. This prevents you from testing against stale code.

6. Stage Test Files for Commit

  • Command: git add <file_name> or git add .
  • Purpose: To stage test files for commit. Staging is an intermediate area where you prepare changes before committing them. You add files to the staging area (git add) to tell Git which changes you want to include in your next commit .
  • Usage Tips: Use . carefully to avoid unwanted files. git add . stages all changes in the current directory and its subdirectories. It's often safer to add files individually or use git status first to see what changes exist .

7. Save Changes with Description

  • Command: git commit -m "Your message"
  • Purpose: To save changes with a description. A commit is a snapshot of your repository at a specific point in time. It saves the changes you have added to the staging area. The -m flag allows you to provide a commit message directly . Good commit messages are crucial for understanding the history later.
  • Usage Tips: Include test case IDs in the message. This links code changes (like test script updates) directly to the work item being tracked.

8. View Commit History

  • Command: git log
  • Purpose: To view commit history. This command shows a chronological list of commits, including the author, date, and commit message . It's useful for understanding when and why changes were made.
  • Usage Tips: Add --pretty=oneline for compactness. This displays each commit on a single line, making it easier to scan many commits.

9. Push Changes to Specific Branch

  • Command: git push origin <branch_name>
  • Purpose: To push changes to a specific branch. While git push often works if your local branch is linked to a remote one, this command explicitly tells Git to push the commits from your current local branch to the specified branch on the origin remote (which is the default name for the remote you cloned from) .
  • Usage Tips: Useful for sharing test branches. If you've been working on a test-* branch, this is how you'd share your changes with colleagues or save them remotely.

10. View Code Changes

  • Command: git diff
  • Purpose: To view code changes. This command shows you the difference between different states of your repository – commonly, the difference between your working directory and the last commit, or between the staging area and the last commit . It helps you review your changes before staging or committing.
  • Usage Tips: Add --staged to see staged changes. This shows the differences between the staging area and the last commit, confirming what will be included in your next commit .

11. Discard Changes to File

  • Command: git checkout -- <file_name>
  • Purpose: To discard changes to a specific file. This command reverts a file in your working directory back to the state it was in during the last commit (or in the staging area if you've added changes) .
  • Usage Tips: Use carefully – changes are lost! This action is typically irreversible for uncommitted changes .

12. Save Changes Temporarily

  • Command: git stash
  • Purpose: To save changes temporarily. Stashing takes your modified tracked files and saves them on a stack of unfinished changes that you can reapply later. It's useful when you need to switch to a different branch or context quickly without committing your current work .
  • Usage Tips: Great for context switching. If you're in the middle of updating a test script and need to urgently pull the latest code or switch to fix a bug, stash your current changes first.

+1. Restore Stashed Changes

  • Command: git stash pop
  • Purpose: To restore stashed changes. This command reapplies the most recently stashed changes to your working directory and simultaneously removes that stash from the stash stack .
  • Usage Tips: Returns to previous testing state. Use this to get back to where you were after temporarily switching away.

Conclusion
Mastering these commands will significantly boost your productivity and collaboration within development teams. They are fundamental tools for staying in sync, managing test code, and being prepared for releases.

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