*Essential Git: The 80/20 Guide to Version Control* Version control can seem overwhelming with hundreds of commands, but a focused set of Git operations can handle the majority of your daily development needs. Best Practices 1. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 - Write clear, descriptive commit messages - Use present tense ("Add feature" not "Added feature") - Include context when needed 2. 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 - Keep main/master branch stable - Create feature branches for new work - Delete merged branches to reduce clutter 3. 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 - Pull before starting new work - Push regularly to backup changes - Resolve conflicts promptly 4. 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 - Use 𝚐𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚜 before important operations - Create backup branches before risky changes - Verify remote URLs before pushing Common Pitfalls to Avoid 1. Committing sensitive information 2. Force pushing to shared branches 3. Merging without reviewing changes 4. Forgetting to create new branches 5. Ignoring merge conflicts Setup and Configuration Essential one-time configurations: Identity setup git config --global user. name "Your Name" git config --global user. email "your. email @ example. com" Helpful aliases git config --global alias. co checkout git config --global alias. br branch git config --global alias. st status ` By mastering these fundamental Git operations and following consistent practices, you'll handle most development scenarios effectively.