Interview #62: Git - What common GIT commands do you use regularly during Test automation?

When working on test automation projects, Git is an essential tool for version control and collaboration. Regularly used Git commands in the context of test automation include the following, categorized for clarity:

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1. Repository Management

• git clone <repository-url> Used to copy a remote repository to your local machine. For example, when starting a new test automation project, you'll clone the repository containing the test codebase and frameworks.

git clone https://github.com/user/project.git        

• git init Initializes a new Git repository. This is useful when starting a new test automation project from scratch.

2. Branching and Merging

• git branch <branch-name> Creates a new branch. In test automation, you might create branches for specific features or test cases.

git branch add-login-tests        

• git checkout <branch-name> Switches to an existing branch. You’ll use this when switching between different test feature branches.

git checkout add-login-tests        

• git checkout -b <branch-name> Creates and switches to a new branch in one step. Commonly used when beginning work on a new set of test scripts.

git checkout -b update-API-tests        

• git merge <branch-name> Merges changes from another branch into the current branch. This is important for integrating completed test scripts or framework updates into the main branch.

git merge add-login-tests        

3. Staging and Committing Changes

• git add <file> or git add . Stages changes for commit. Use this to prepare newly written or updated test scripts for version control.

git add login_test.py        

• git commit -m "<commit-message>" Records staged changes with a descriptive commit message. In test automation, commit messages often describe test cases added or bugs fixed.

git commit -m "Added login validation test cases"        

4. Synchronizing with Remote Repositories

• git pull Fetches changes from the remote repository and merges them into your local branch. This ensures your local test scripts are up to date before starting new work.

git pull origin main        

• git push Pushes your local commits to the remote repository. You'll use this to share your updated or newly created test scripts with the team.

git push origin add-login-tests        

5. Viewing Changes

• git status Displays the status of your working directory, including staged, unstaged, and untracked files. It’s essential for tracking your changes during test script development.

git status        

• git diff Shows changes between your working directory and the staging area. It helps you review updates to test scripts before committing.

git diff        

6. Handling Undo and Rollback

• git reset <file> Unstages a file that was added by mistake. Use this if you accidentally staged a test file not ready for commit.

git reset login_test.py        

• git checkout -- <file> Discards changes in a file, reverting it to the last committed state. This is useful for undoing accidental modifications to test scripts.

git checkout -- login_test.py        

• git revert <commit-hash> Creates a new commit that undoes the changes from a specific commit, without altering the commit history. Ideal for rolling back breaking changes in the test codebase.

7. Collaboration and Code Review

• git fetch Retrieves updates from the remote repository without merging them. This is useful for reviewing updates before applying them.

git fetch origin        

• git rebase <branch-name> Reapplies commits from one branch onto another. Often used in collaborative workflows to maintain a clean commit history.

git rebase main        

8. Tagging and Releases

• git tag <tag-name> Creates a tag for marking specific commits, such as stable test framework releases.

git tag v1.0.0        

• git push origin <tag-name> Pushes tags to the remote repository.

git push origin v1.0.0        

Real-World Example Workflow in Test Automation:

1. Clone the repository

git clone https://github.com/user/test-automation-framework.git        

1. Create a feature branch

git checkout -b add-api-tests        

1. Write and test automation scripts.
2. Stage and commit changes

git add .
git commit -m "Added API tests for user authentication"        

1. Pull the latest updates from the main branch

git pull origin main        

1. Resolve conflicts, if any, and push changes

git push origin add-api-tests        

1. Create a pull request for code review and merge.

By mastering these commands, you can ensure smooth collaboration and efficient version control for your test automation projects.