Modify Files

Modify a File or Two

1. Open README.md in your text editor of choice. In this example, we will open the directory in Visual Studio Code by using the command code . inside your repository.

   # Edit README using text editor
   code .
   

   What if I don’t have Visual Studio Code?

   In that case, you can use any text editor of your choice. If you’re using Windows, you can use Notepad. If you’re using Mac, you can use TextEdit. If you’re using a smart fridge, how did you get that in here?

2. Add “Hello GDSC!” to line 3 of README.md and save the file with Ctrl + S (Mac: Cmd + S).

3. Go back to your terminal, or if you’re using Visual Studio Code, you can open the built-in terminal by pressing Ctrl + \ (backtick). Then type git status. You’ll notice that README.md is now shown as not staged or committed.

   # Check repo status again using CLI
   git status
   

4. Add README.md to the staging area with git add README.md.

   # Stage README changes and check repo status again using CLI
   git add README.md
   

   Can you guess what git status will output now? README.md will be displayed in green text. That means README.md has been added to the staging area.

5. Open gdsc.txt, add your name, occupation, a favorite hobby and something you dislike, save it, and stage it. You can use git add . to add all files in the current directory and all subsequent directories to the staging area. Then, type git status once more, and everything should now be in the staging area.

   Example gdsc.txt

   Name: Armand
   Occupation: Master's Student in Software Engineering at Babes-Bolyai University
   Hobby: Playing Valorant
   Dislike: CFR
   

   # Stage all other files in repo and check repo status again using CLI
   git add .
   

6. Finally, let’s commit all of the files that are in the staging area and add a descriptive commit message: git commit -m "Edit README.md and gdsc.txt". Then, type git status once again, which will output “nothing to commit.”

   # Commit repo changes again and check repo status again using CLI
   git commit -m "Edit README.md and gdsc.txt"
   git status
   

7. Take one last look at your commit history by typing git log. You should now see three entries.

   # Check repo commit history using CLI
   git log