Modern Git Commands

Purpose: This skill teaches AI agents to use modern, intuitive Git commands instead of legacy multi-purpose commands like git checkout. Modern commands are clearer, safer, and make code intent more obvious.

Core Principles

1. Use git switch for branch operations - NOT git checkout
2. Use git restore for file operations - NOT git checkout --
3. Use git push --force-with-lease - NOT git push --force
4. Be explicit about intent - Clear commands prevent mistakes

Quick Reference

Branch Operations → Use git switch

# ✓ CORRECT: Modern commands
git switch main                    # Switch to existing branch
git switch -c feature-branch       # Create and switch to new branch
git switch -                       # Switch to previous branch

# ✗ AVOID: Legacy commands
git checkout main                  # Overloaded command, unclear intent
git checkout -b feature-branch     # Same operation, less clear
git checkout -                     # Same, but what does "-" mean?

Why: git switch has a single, clear purpose: branch operations. It provides better error messages and is harder to misuse.

File Operations → Use git restore

# ✓ CORRECT: Modern commands
git restore src/app.js                        # Discard working directory changes
git restore --staged src/app.js               # Unstage file
git restore --source=abc123 src/app.js        # Restore from specific commit
git restore --staged --worktree src/app.js    # Unstage AND discard

# ✗ AVOID: Legacy commands
git checkout -- src/app.js                    # Requires confusing "--" separator
git reset HEAD src/app.js                     # "reset" sounds destructive
git checkout abc123 -- src/app.js             # Unclear what's happening

Why: git restore is dedicated to file operations with explicit flags (--staged, --worktree, --source) that make intent crystal clear.

Force Push → Use --force-with-lease

# ✓ CORRECT: Safe force push
git push --force-with-lease origin feature-branch

# ✗ AVOID: Dangerous force push
git push --force origin feature-branch

Why: --force-with-lease checks if the remote branch has been updated by others before force pushing. Prevents accidental overwrites.

Decision Trees

"I need to switch branches"

Do you need to create the branch first?
├─ YES → git switch -c <new-branch>
└─ NO  → git switch <existing-branch>

Special cases:
├─ Previous branch → git switch -
└─ With uncommitted changes → git stash && git switch <branch> && git stash pop
                              OR git switch -c <new-branch>  (bring changes with you)

"I need to fix a file"

What do you want to fix?
├─ Discard working directory changes
│  └─> git restore <file>
│
├─ Unstage file (keep changes in working directory)
│  └─> git restore --staged <file>
│
├─ Discard AND unstage
│  └─> git restore --staged --worktree <file>
│
└─ Restore from specific commit
   └─> git restore --source=<commit> <file>

"I need to force push"

Why do you need to force push?
├─ After rebase/amend (common, safe scenario)
│  └─> git push --force-with-lease origin <branch>
│
├─ To overwrite remote (rare, potentially dangerous)
│  ├─ Are you SURE no one else has pushed?
│  │  ├─ YES → git push --force-with-lease origin <branch>
│  │  └─ NO  → git fetch && git rebase origin/<branch>
│  │
│  └─> Tip: ALWAYS prefer --force-with-lease over --force

Common Workflows

Workflow 1: Start New Feature

# ✓ CORRECT
git switch main
git pull
git switch -c feature/new-feature

# ✗ AVOID
git checkout main
git pull
git checkout -b feature/new-feature

Workflow 2: Discard File Changes

# ✓ CORRECT
git restore src/broken.js          # Single file
git restore .                      # All files in current directory

# ✗ AVOID
git checkout -- src/broken.js
git checkout -- .

Workflow 3: Unstage and Discard

# ✓ CORRECT
git restore --staged --worktree src/app.js

# OR two steps for clarity
git restore --staged src/app.js    # Unstage
git restore src/app.js              # Then discard

# ✗ AVOID
git reset HEAD src/app.js
git checkout -- src/app.js

Workflow 4: Restore from Specific Commit

# ✓ CORRECT
git restore --source=abc123 src/legacy.js
git restore --source=HEAD~3 src/config.js

# ✗ AVOID
git checkout abc123 -- src/legacy.js
git checkout HEAD~3 -- src/config.js

Workflow 5: Safe Rebase and Push

# ✓ CORRECT
git switch feature-branch
git rebase main
git push --force-with-lease origin feature-branch

# ✗ AVOID
git checkout feature-branch
git rebase main
git push --force origin feature-branch

Safety Guidelines

1. Always Use Modern Commands for Common Operations

2. Be Explicit About Intent

# ✓ GOOD: Intent is obvious
git restore --staged src/app.js           # Clearly unstaging
git restore --source=HEAD~1 src/app.js    # Clearly restoring from parent commit

# ✗ UNCLEAR: What's happening?
git checkout -- src/app.js                # Restoring? From where?
git checkout HEAD~1 -- src/app.js         # Is this switching branches or restoring?

3. Protect Against Accidents

# ✓ SAFE: --force-with-lease protects against overwrites
git push --force-with-lease origin feature-branch

# ✗ DANGEROUS: Can overwrite others' work
git push --force origin feature-branch

# ✓ SAFE: git switch refuses to switch with uncommitted changes
git switch main  # Errors if uncommitted changes

# ✗ RISKY: Need to remember --discard flag
git switch --discard-changes main  # Only use when you WANT to lose changes

4. Use Stash for Experimentation

# ✓ SAFE: Can recover if experiment fails
git stash push -m "Before risky operation"
# Try risky operation
git restore --source=old-commit .
# If it fails:
git stash pop  # Recover

# ✗ RISKY: No recovery option
git restore --source=old-commit .
# Changes lost forever!

When Legacy Commands Are Still OK

Some scenarios don't have modern equivalents:

# Exploring history (detached HEAD)
git checkout abc123                # Still acceptable
git switch --detach abc123         # More explicit alternative

# Complex remote tracking
git checkout -b local origin/remote  # Still commonly used

Rule of thumb: If there's a modern equivalent for your use case, use it. Legacy commands are OK only when no modern alternative exists.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Using git checkout for Everything

# ✗ BAD: Unclear intent, error-prone
git checkout main
git checkout -b feature
git checkout -- src/app.js

# ✓ GOOD: Clear intent for each operation
git switch main
git switch -c feature
git restore src/app.js

Mistake 2: Forgetting --force-with-lease

# ✗ BAD: Can overwrite others' commits
git rebase main
git push --force origin feature-branch

# ✓ GOOD: Safe against overwrites
git rebase main
git push --force-with-lease origin feature-branch

Mistake 3: Confusing --staged and --worktree

# ✗ WRONG: Only unstages, doesn't discard changes
git restore --staged src/app.js
# File still modified in working directory!

# ✓ CORRECT: Specify both if you want both
git restore --staged --worktree src/app.js
# OR
git restore --staged src/app.js  # Unstage
git restore src/app.js            # Then discard

Mistake 4: Not Checking Before Discarding

# ✗ RISKY: Blindly discarding without checking
git restore .

# ✓ SAFE: Check what you're losing first
git status
git diff
git restore .

Integration with AI Code Generation

When generating Git commands in code or documentation:

1. Default to Modern Commands

# ✓ GOOD: Use modern commands in examples
To discard your changes, run:
\`\`\`bash
git restore src/app.js
\`\`\`

# ✗ AVOID: Don't teach legacy commands
To discard your changes, run:
\`\`\`bash
git checkout -- src/app.js
\`\`\`

2. Explain Why Modern Commands Are Better

# ✓ GOOD: Educate users
Use `git switch` instead of `git checkout` for branch operations.
This makes your intent clearer and provides better error messages.

# ✗ INSUFFICIENT: Just showing command without context
Use `git switch main` to switch branches.

3. Use Consistent Command Patterns

# ✓ GOOD: Consistent modern commands throughout
git switch develop
git pull
git switch -c feature/new-feature
git restore --staged accidental-file.js

# ✗ INCONSISTENT: Mixing old and new
git checkout develop
git pull
git switch -c feature/new-feature
git checkout -- accidental-file.js

Reference Documentation

For detailed comparisons and advanced scenarios:

• Command Comparison - Side-by-side legacy vs modern command comparisons
• Migration Guide - Detailed patterns for complex scenarios

Summary Table

Key Takeaway

Always prefer modern commands for clarity, safety, and better error messages. Your future self (and code reviewers) will thank you.

When in doubt:

• Branch operations → git switch
• File operations → git restore
• Force push → --force-with-lease