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by u801e 2379 days ago
> I've worked with developers that have used git for 10 years who didn't fully realize what all of the 'git reset' options entailed

While knowing some of them, if you use git reset on a frequent basis is expected, knowing where to find information on the other options is essential. I frequently go back and read through the man pages for various git commands so that I understand what will happen if I use a particular set of options and also to learn new things while reading through them.

So, the proper answer for a developer who doesn't realize what a git command is capable of is to refer to the man page for that particular command.

2 comments

I believe it's more beneficial for developers to learn the underlying model of how git works (blobs, trees, commits, tags, etc) and how various commands deal with those underlying concepts. The Pro Git book git internals chapter is a very good place to start. That, in combination with the man pages for the commands they go over, will greatly enhance one's understanding of how git works.

Relying on cheat sheets to learn how to use git is not much different compared to learning how to use a programming language via Stack Overflow. In other words, you'll never develop a more thorough understanding of how the tool works and how to use it effectively.

Right. Assuming that they're not competent because they can't recall a slice of domain-specific knowlege from memory is not good.