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Git Aliases

Git allows you to create aliases for many common operations, making it easier to remember and execute them. This is one of the most powerful customization features Git offers, allowing you to create shortcuts for complex commands and make your workflow more efficient.

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Creating Aliases

Simply run git config --global alias.<alias> <command> to create an alias for the specified command. The alias can then be used in place of the command when running Git commands.

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Basic Alias Creation

# Syntax: git config --global alias.<alias> <command>

git config --global alias.co checkout
# Creates an alias `co` for the `checkout` command

git config --global alias.cm "commit -m"
# Creates an alias `cm` for the `commit -m` command
If your command contains spaces, wrap it in quotes.

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Using the Configuration File

Alternatively, you can edit the configuration file and add multiple aliases at once. This is more practical for adding complex commands, as you don’t have to worry about escaping special characters: 
git config --global -e
# Opens the global git configuration file in the default git text editor

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Useful Aliases

Below is a comprehensive list of aliases for increasing productivity when working with Git. These aliases cover common operations and workflows:
~/.gitconfig
[alias]
  co = checkout
  cob = checkout -b
  coo = !git fetch && git checkout
  br = branch
  brd = branch -d
  st = status
  aa = add -A .
  unstage = reset --soft HEAD^
  cm = commit -m
  amend = commit --amend -m
  fix = commit --fixup
  undo = reset HEAD~1
  rv = revert
  cp = cherry-pick
  pu = !git push origin `git branch --show-current`
  fush = push -f
  flush = push --force-with-lease
  mg = merge --no-ff
  rb = rebase
  rbc = rebase --continue
  rba = rebase --abort
  rbs = rebase --skip
  rom = !git fetch && git rebase -i origin/master --autosquash
  save = stash push
  pop = stash pop
  apply = stash apply
  rl = reflog

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Alias Categories

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Branch Management

# Checkout shortcuts
git co master          # Instead of: git checkout master
git cob feature-1      # Instead of: git checkout -b feature-1
git coo patch-1        # Fetch and checkout in one command

# Branch operations
git br                 # Instead of: git branch
git brd old-feature    # Instead of: git branch -d old-feature

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Commit Operations

# Staging and committing
git aa                 # Instead of: git add -A .
git cm "Fix bug"       # Instead of: git commit -m "Fix bug"
git amend "New msg"    # Instead of: git commit --amend -m "New msg"

# Commit management
git unstage            # Instead of: git reset --soft HEAD^
git undo               # Instead of: git reset HEAD~1
git fix HEAD~2         # Instead of: git commit --fixup HEAD~2

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Status and History

git st                 # Instead of: git status
git rl                 # Instead of: git reflog

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Push and Pull

# Push to current branch
git pu                 # Pushes to origin with current branch name

# Force push options
git fush               # Force push (use with caution)
git flush              # Force push with lease (safer alternative)

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Merge and Rebase

# Merge with no fast-forward
git mg feature-1       # Instead of: git merge --no-ff feature-1

# Rebase operations
git rb master          # Instead of: git rebase master
git rbc                # Instead of: git rebase --continue
git rba                # Instead of: git rebase --abort
git rbs                # Instead of: git rebase --skip
git rom                # Fetch and interactive rebase on origin/master

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Stash Operations

git save               # Instead of: git stash push
git pop                # Instead of: git stash pop
git apply              # Instead of: git stash apply

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Advanced Aliases with Shell Commands

Aliases that start with ! execute shell commands, allowing for more complex operations: 
[alias]
  # Fetch and checkout in one command
  coo = !git fetch && git checkout
  
  # Push to current branch
  pu = !git push origin `git branch --show-current`
  
  # Fetch and interactive rebase with autosquash
  rom = !git fetch && git rebase -i origin/master --autosquash

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Listing Aliases

To view all your configured aliases: 
git config --get-regexp alias

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Best Practices

  • Keep aliases short and memorable
  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Document complex aliases
  • Test aliases before adding them to global configuration
  • Avoid overriding built-in Git commands
  • Share useful aliases with your team

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Common Workflows

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Quick Commit Workflow

git aa
git cm "Add new feature"
git pu

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Branch and Merge Workflow

git cob feature-2
# Make changes...
git aa
git cm "Implement feature 2"
git co master
git mg feature-2

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Stash and Switch Workflow

git save
git co master
# Do some work...
git co -
git pop

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