TOP 20 Git Command

Unlock Git Like a Pro: The Essential Commands Every Tester Needs to Know!

🧠 Why Testers Need Git.

Git commands for testers aren’t just “nice to know.” They’re survival tools.

“I’m just a manual tester. Do I really need Git?”

YES. It’s not a dev-only tool. It’s a don’t-break-everything-please-for-the-love-of-prod tool.

You’re testing? Then you’re touching code. Or configs. Or automation scripts. Git gives you control, history, and a save point when your brain is mush after debugging a flaky test for 3 hours straight.

😱 That One Time Git Saved My Work

Back in 2018, I was knee-deep in a UAT cycle. Regression suite was failing randomly. We had three branches open—dev, staging, and a rogue “test-hotfix” no one owned.

Guess what? I accidentally ran tests on “test-hotfix.” And logged 42 bugs.

Yeah.

Thanks to git log and git diff, I traced the issue to a rogue config change that only existed in that branch. We reverted, re-ran, and I didn’t get roasted by the dev lead that day.

Moral of the story? Git doesn’t just track code. It saves jobs.

🚀 Top 20 Git Commands For Tester

Not in fancy order. Just raw, real, essential.

`git clone <repo-url>`

Clone the repo. Get the code. Start the chaos.
Use case: First day, new project. You panic. This saves you.

`git status`

Your BFF. Shows what’s changed. What’s staged.
Use case: Before every commit. Or just when you’re lost.

`git pull`

Grab the latest changes from the remote.
Use case: Before starting your work. Or risk merge hell.

`git fetch`

Like pull, but safer. Doesn’t auto-merge.
Use case: You want to see what changed, not take it… yet..

`git branch`

List branches. Or create one (git branch new-branch).
Use case: Testing a new feature? Make a branch. Don’t mess up main.

`git checkout <branch>`

Hop to another branch.
Use case: Testing old features, bugs, or staging environments.

`git checkout -b <branch>`

Make and switch in one go.
Use case: Fast context switching. Regression time? Create a branch, test, peace out.

`git add <file>`

Stage changes. Or just git add . (YOLO).
Use case: You tweaked some test scripts, ready to commit.

`git commit -m "message"`

Save your work. Write good messages. Not “fix”.
Use case: Log your logic. Save your skin later..

`git push`

Send your changes to the remote.
Use case: Done testing? Share with the dev. Push it. Done

`git log`

History of commits. Who broke what, and when.
Use case: Hunt bugs like a Git detective.

`git diff`

See what changed between commits. Or local vs remote.
Use case: “Why did my test break?!” Oh… that line changed.

`git stash`

Temporarily save work. Magic button.
Use case: Need to switch tasks fast. Hide your mess, come back later.

`git stash pop`

Bring back stashed changes.
Use case: You fixed a bug locally, jumped to a meeting, forgot… this saves you.

`git merge`

Combine changes.
Use case: Testing multiple features, need a clean branch. Merge gently.

`git rebase`

Oh boy. Advanced. Rewrites commit history.
Use case: Use only if you know what you’re doing. Or pair with someone who does.

`git revert <commit>`

Undo a commit. Safely.
Use case: Deployed a bad test config? Revert it without drama

`git reset`

Hardcore undo.
Use case: You messed up. Really messed up. Reset it. Cry a little. Move on.

`git tag`

Label commits. Like checkpoints.
Use case: “This is release-ready.” Boom. Tagged

`git reflog`

Secret weapon. Tracks everything.
Use case: You lost something. It’s gone. Or so you think…

🛠️ I once saved a tester from getting fired using reflog. They thought they deleted prod test configs. Nope. We brought them back like a Git necromancer.

🔗 Official Git Documentation
👉 https://git-scm.com/doc
Use it when you want to go deeper into a command, or when Stack Overflow sends you in circles.

🔍 Deep Dive: 5 Commands That’ll Save Your Sanity

🔄 `git stash`

You’re testing a feature. Suddenly, bug comes in on another one.
You need to switch branches—but don’t want to lose your half-done script edits.

Boom:

				
					git stash
git checkout hotfix-branch

When you’re back:

				
					git stash pop

Done. Magic.

⏪ `git revert`

Oops. You pushed something bad.

Revert that commit without deleting history:

				
					git revert <commit-hash>

Great for prod configs, test data rollbacks, or just undoing dumb stuff without drama.

🔥 `git reset --hard`

⚠️ Use with caution. This wipes everything back to a commit. Like a time machine with a sledgehammer.

Example:

				
					git reset --hard HEAD~1

Just messed up your whole day? This might fix it. Or make it worse. Read twice, reset once.

🧠 `git reflog`

The “Oh crap, where’d it go?” command.

Even if you deleted a branch or did a bad reset, Git remembers.

				
					git reflog

Find your commit. Roll back. Save the day.

🧪 `git rebase`

For cleaner history. Rewrites commits onto a base. Conflicts? Oh yeah. But it’s tidy.

				
					git rebase main

Works best when your automation team’s working together. Otherwise… 😬 chaos.

✅ When to Use What (Git Cheat Sheet)

Situation	Command to Use
First-time repo setup	git clone
Starting a new test feature	git checkout -b
Test scripts not ready, switching	git stash
Just pulled latest, test fails now	git diff, git log
Panic undo	git revert, reflog
Clean up before merging	git rebase
Finalizing before tagging release	git tag

🖥️ GUI Git Tools That Don’t Suck (Much)

💾 GitHub Desktop

Beginner-friendly
Great for GitHub-based teams
Drag, drop, commit

🌀 Sourcetree

Handles large repos better than most
Bitbucket compatible
Stash and merge are intuitive

🧠 GitKraken

Visual timeline
Drag-to-merge (freakin’ cool)
Built-in conflict resolution

🛠️ VS Code Git UI

Built into the editor
One-click stage/commit/push
Inline diff view is chef’s kiss

🧬 Fork (yes, that’s its name)

Super lightweight
Powerful under the hood
Git log views are crystal clear

💼 Git Tower

Best for teams
Paid, but polished
Great undo/redo workflows

🧰 Quick Comparison

Feature	GitHub Desktop	Sourcetree	GitKraken	VS Code Git UI	Fork	Git Tower
Ease of Use	Very beginner-friendly	Easy for intermediate users	Great for both beginners and pros	Simple, integrated in editor	Simple and intuitive	Professional-grade UI
Platform	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS
Interface	Graphical (drag/drop)	Graphical (with sidebar)	Graphical (beautiful, slick)	Built into VS Code (CLI + UI)	Graphical (lightweight)	Graphical (powerful)
Best For	GitHub-based workflows	Bitbucket users	Teams, visual learners	Developers familiar with VS Code	Lightweight workflows	Teams, complex workflows
Branch Management	Simple	Excellent, multi-branch view	Advanced, visual tools	Basic (CLI, integrated)	Good for simple branching	Excellent, multi-branch view
Commit History	Basic history	Detailed commit log	Visual commit graph	Inline diffs, commit history	Clear and fast history	Powerful commit history
Merge Conflict Resolution	Basic	Advanced conflict tool	Excellent conflict resolver	Basic, depends on extensions	Simple but effective	Advanced conflict resolver
Additional Features	Integration with GitHub	Support for multiple remotes	Built-in issue tracking, dark mode	Git actions from VS Code	Fast, supports large repos	Powerful, supports multiple repositories
Customization	Minimal	Moderate customization	High customization	Minimal (depends on extensions)	Moderate	Extensive customization
Price	Free	Free	Free with paid options	Free	Paid (but with trial)	Paid (with trial)

🧾 Wait—Manual Testers Can Use Git Too?

Yup.

You may not be pushing code, but you’re:

Updating test data files
Changing test case markdowns
Managing test run scripts
Reviewing configs in branches

Use Git to:

Track changes to test documentation
Sync changes between teams
Avoid “who changed this?” nightmares

Even exploratory testers can stash notes and session logs. Seriously.

📋 Do’s and Don’ts of Git in Testing

✅ Do

Create a branch before testing new features
Use git stash when context switching
Write meaningful commit messages
Pull changes before testing
Learn git log, git diff, and git revert

❌ Don’t

Push to main directly (seriously, stop)
Panic during a conflict — breathe, ask for help
Use reset --hard unless you really know
Let your GUI tool be a crutch—know the CLI

🧪 Mini Case Study: Git in the Wild

🧵 Team A: Created a “qa-testing” branch on every sprint. Testers could pull changes and start work early without touching dev.

🪓 Team B: Tester force-pushed old automation scripts to main—broke staging. Twice.

🔍 Team C: Used tags on every release. Regression tests always ran on tagged builds. Saved hours weekly.

FAQs

What’s the difference between git pull and git fetch?

git fetch only downloads new data from the remote repo. It doesn’t modify your local working directory. You’ll need to merge those changes manually. git pull fetches and automatically merges them into your current branch. If you don’t want the merge right away, use fetch!

Can I use Git to manage test data?

Absolutely! Git’s great for managing test scripts, data files, configurations, and documentation. Just make sure your test data isn’t too large—Git’s not optimized for giant binary files. For those, look into Git LFS (Large File Storage).

What’s the safest way to undo a commit?

Use git revert to safely undo a commit. It creates a new commit that undoes the changes. If you want to completely erase a commit from history (and you’re sure no one else has pulled from it), you can use git reset --hard, but be careful. It’s destructive.

Why should I use git branch when I can just work on master?

Using branches allows you to work on features, tests, or bug fixes in isolation. Branches keep your main codebase (like master or main) clean and stable. Testers should create a new branch for each testing task to avoid conflicts and keep things organized.

How do I deal with merge conflicts?

Ah, merge conflicts. They’re annoying but not the end of the world. When a conflict occurs, Git will mark the file. You’ll have to go in manually, find the conflicting code, and decide what stays and what goes. After that, commit the resolved changes.

What’s the best way to handle large repos in Git?

Use shallow clones with git clone --depth 1 to save space and reduce download time. Also, consider using Git LFS (Large File Storage) for binaries like images, videos, or large test data files.

How do I know which branch I’m currently on?

Simple! Just run:

Can Git track my test run results?

Not directly, but if you log your test run results in text or JSON files, you can track those with Git. This makes it easier to compare results across different test runs and keep historical records.

Should I commit every time I run a test?

No need to commit after every test run. Commit when you’re adding or modifying something meaningful, like a new feature or an important change in your test suite. Over-committing can clutter your Git history. But don’t worry—if you’re unsure, it’s always better to commit too often than too little.

What’s the deal with git reset --soft and git reset --hard?

Both commands move your HEAD to a previous commit, but --soft keeps your working directory and staging area intact (so you can fix up your changes), while --hard resets everything—working directory, index, and HEAD—to match the chosen commit. Use --hard carefully—it’s destructive.

Can I switch between branches if I have uncommitted changes?

Not unless you either commit or stash those changes. Git will stop you from switching branches to prevent conflicts. You can either stash with git stash or commit your work before switching branches.

💬 Comment Below If You’ve Seen Worse!

Have a Git war story?
Stashed something and never found it again?
Reset the wrong branch and watched the fire spread?

Drop it in the comments.
Let’s laugh, cry, and drink coffee together.

⚡ Call-To-Action

If this helped, pass it on to your team.
Drop your own Git horror story below, or your favorite lesser-known command.

Let’s make Git suck a little less—for testers like us. 💥

Also Don’t forget to check our blogs.

One Response

Pingback: Top 20 Essential Git Commands for Testers: Master QA with Confidence

TOP 20 Git Command

🧠 Why Testers Need Git.

😱 That One Time Git Saved My Work

🚀 Top 20 Git Commands For Tester

git clone <repo-url>

git status

git pull

git fetch

git branch

git checkout <branch>

git checkout -b <branch>

git add <file>

git commit -m "message"

git push

git log

git diff

git stash

git stash pop

git merge

git rebase

git revert <commit>

git reset

git tag

git reflog