We can initialize a git repository in our working directory, either locally using git init or by creating a new repository in our github account, and typing in a terminal git clone git@github.com:<user-name>/<repo-name>.git. I will create a new git local repository on my working directory.

git init && ls -al .git/

Now I will create a .gitignore file to inform git which files and folders I do not want to watch using this repo.

echo -e '*.org\n*~\nimg/\nmedia/\nsrc/\ntmp-audacity' > .gitignore && cat .gitignore

Using git status I can see the status of my Working Directory.

git status

On branch master

Initial commit

Untracked files:
  (use "git add <file>..." to include in what will be committed)

	.gitignore

nothing added to commit but untracked files present (use "git add" to track)

None of the files/folders in my working directory are being tracked by git because I have exclude them in .gitignore. I have to add only the later in my repository.

In order to move .gitignore to the Staging Area I have to type git add .gitignore or git add . where dot symbol is regex.

git add .gitignore && git status

On branch master

Initial commit

Changes to be committed:
  (use "git rm --cached <file>..." to unstage)

        new file:   .gitignore

Now .gitignore is on Staging Area.

In order to checkout my directory I have to make my first commit.

git commit -m 'initial commit and adding .gitignore' && git status

[master (root-commit) e96bbb2] initial commit and adding .gitignore
 1 file changed, 6 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 .gitignore
On branch master
nothing to commit, working tree clean

NOTE

If you decide to merge the steps git add and git commit using the -a -m switches you might loose or add unwanted information that you have added last minute. The same file can be at the same time on staging area and unstaged as well.

Now I have finished my git cycle. After every commit, git can remember every edit that I have done.

I will add a new line to .gitignore and I will rollback to my initial commit.

echo 'a new line' >> .gitignore && cat .gitignore && git status

*.org
*~
img/
media/
src/
tmp-audacity
a new line
On branch master
Changes not staged for commit:
  (use "git add <file>..." to update what will be committed)
  (use "git checkout -- <file>..." to discard changes in working directory)

	modified:   .gitignore

no changes added to commit (use "git add" and/or "git commit -a")

Now I will stage and commit at once, just for the demo.

git commit -a -m 'stage & commit at once' && git status

[master 5009d0a] stage & commit at once
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
On branch master
nothing to commit, working tree clean