For everyday work, GitHub does not require many commands. A simple five-step routine is enough for most personal projects.

git pull
git status
git add .
git commit -m "Describe the change"
git push

What Each Command Does

• git pull brings the latest version of the project down from GitHub.
• git status shows which files have changed.
• git add . selects all of the changed files for the next commit. The dot means all changed files in the current project folder and its subfolders.
• git commit records a local checkpoint with a short description.
• git push sends the new commit to GitHub. In practical terms, it copies the committed changes from your computer up to the GitHub repository.

The Routine to Remember

A useful way to remember the process is:

Pull
Work
Test
Add
Commit
Push

Start by pulling the latest version. Make and test your changes. Then add, commit, and push them to GitHub.

Git may have many advanced features, but this basic workflow is enough for much of the day-to-day work on a personal project.