What Are Git Aliases?

Aliases are custom shorthand commands defined in your Git config. Instead of typing `git commit --amend` every time, you can set `git amend` and save dozens of keystrokes daily.

Setting Up Aliases

# Basic alias

git config --global alias.co checkout

git config --global alias.br branch

git config --global alias.st status

git config --global alias.ci commit

Now you can use:

git co main

git br feature-login

git st

git ci -m "Message"

Advanced Aliases

Aliases can run complex commands:

# Better log with graph

git config --global alias.lg "log --oneline --graph --all --decorate"

# Show last commit

git config --global alias.last "log -1 HEAD"

# Undo last commit (keep changes)

git config --global alias.undo "reset --soft HEAD~1"

# List branches with dates

git config --global alias.branches "branch -a -v"

Shell Aliases

Prefix with `!` to run shell commands:

git config --global alias.standup "!git log --since=yesterday --oneline --author=$(git config user.name)"

git config --global alias.root "!pwd"

Editor Integration

Edit aliases directly:

git config --global --edit

# Opens ~/.gitconfig in your editor

Example `~/.gitconfig` section:

[alias]

co = checkout

br = branch

st = status

ci = commit

lg = log --oneline --graph --all --decorate

undo = reset --soft HEAD~1

Start Small

Add aliases for commands you use ten times a day. Within a week, muscle memory takes over and you will wonder how you lived without them.

Git Aliases: Speed Up Your Daily Workflow