Git is a widely-used version control system that allows developers to manage project changes, merge different branches, and keep track of project history. However, when working on multiple tasks simultaneously, it can be challenging to switch between them without losing progress on any particular task. In such cases, the "git stash" command comes in handy.
The "git stash" command temporarily stores changes in a designated area, known as a "stash." This feature enables developers to switch to a different task without losing their progress on the current task. Later, they can restore the temporarily saved changes and continue working on the original task.
For instance, let's consider an example of how to use the "git stash" command to save a change temporarily and then restore it:
First, make a change in your project using the appropriate command:
$ echo "Hello, world!" > myfile.txt
Next, stage the change by running the "git add" command:
$ git add myfile.txt
And commit the change by running the "git commit" command:
$ git commit -m "Added myfile.txt"
Now, you can switch to another task without committing the changes by using the "git stash" command:
$ git stash save "Work in progress"
This command will save the current changes to a temporary area. You can also add a description like "Work in progress" to provide context for the saved changes.
To view the list of temporarily saved changes, use the "git stash list" command:
$ git stash list
stash@{0}: On master: Work in progress
If you want to restore the temporarily saved changes, use the "git stash apply" command:
$ git stash apply
This command restores the latest saved change. If multiple changes were saved, you may need to specify a reference like "stash@{0}."
The "git stash" command is a powerful tool that can save you time and effort when working on multiple tasks in a project. With this feature, you can switch between tasks without worrying about losing any progress or changes.