the_information_nexus/tech_docs/cli_skills.md

To improve your CLI skills, focusing on efficiency and mastery of shell commands, here are some tips and techniques:

1. **Use Aliases:**
   Create aliases for commonly used commands to save time. For example:
   ```sh
   alias cdp='cd ..'
   alias ll='ls -la'
   alias v='vim'
   ```
   Add these to your `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc` file.

2. **Navigation Shortcuts:**
   - Use `cd -` to quickly switch to the previous directory.
   - Use `cd` with shortcuts like `..` for parent directories or `~` for the home directory.
   - Implement `pushd` and `popd` for managing directory stack:
     ```sh
     pushd /path/to/directory
     popd
     ```

3. **Tab Completion:**
   Leverage tab completion to quickly fill in file and directory names.

4. **Search Command History:**
   Use `Ctrl + r` to reverse search through your command history.

5. **Bash/Zsh Shortcuts:**
   - `Ctrl + a` moves to the beginning of the line.
   - `Ctrl + e` moves to the end of the line.
   - `Ctrl + w` deletes the word before the cursor.
   - `Ctrl + u` deletes from the cursor to the beginning of the line.
   - `Ctrl + k` deletes from the cursor to the end of the line.

6. **Scripting:**
   Write simple scripts for repetitive tasks. For example, to navigate to a commonly used directory and open a file:
   ```sh
   #! /bin/bash
   cd ~/repos/the_information_nexus/tech_docs/linux
   vim vim.md
   ```
   Save this as `edit_vim_docs.sh` and run it with `./edit_vim_docs.sh`.

7. **Combine Commands with && and ;:**
   Combine commands on a single line to streamline workflows:
   ```sh
   cd ~/repos/the_information_nexus/projects && vim The-Digital-Pulse-Series.md
   ```

8. **Use `find` and `grep`:**
   Search for files and content within files efficiently:
   ```sh
   find . -name '*.md'
   grep -r 'search_term' .
   ```

9. **Keyboard Macros:**
   Use `Ctrl + x` followed by `(` and `)` to start and end a keyboard macro in bash, which can be used to repeat a sequence of commands.

10. **Automation with `Makefile`:**
    Use Makefiles to define commands you often run, simplifying complex workflows:
    ```makefile
    edit_vim_docs:
        cd ~/repos/the_information_nexus/tech_docs/linux && vim vim.md
    ```

11. **Learning Resources:**
    - **Books:**
      - "The Linux Command Line" by William Shotts
      - "Learning the bash Shell" by Cameron Newham
    - **Online Courses:**
      - Codecademy's Command Line course
      - Udemy's Linux Command Line Basics

12. **Experiment with Shell Customization:**
    Customize your shell prompt to include useful information like the current directory, Git branch, etc. For example, using `oh-my-zsh`:
    ```sh
    ZSH_THEME="agnoster"
    ```

Implementing these tips will help you become more efficient and powerful with your command-line skills.

---

To enhance your Git skills, here are some detailed explanations and examples of commands and best practices:

### Basic Git Workflow

1. **Check Status:**
   ```sh
   git status
   ```
   - Shows the current state of your working directory and staging area.
   - Use it frequently to keep track of changes.

2. **Add Changes:**
   ```sh
   git add .
   ```
   - Stages all changes in the working directory.
   ```sh
   git add file_name
   ```
   - Stages specific files.

3. **Commit Changes:**
   ```sh
   git commit -m "Your commit message"
   ```
   - Records the staged changes in the repository with a message.
   - Use clear, descriptive messages. For example, "Fix typo in README.md".

4. **Push Changes:**
   ```sh
   git push origin main
   ```
   - Uploads your local commits to the remote repository.
   - Ensure your local branch is up to date with `git pull` before pushing.

### Advanced Git Commands and Practices

1. **Interactive Add:**
   ```sh
   git add -p
   ```
   - Interactively review and stage changes hunk by hunk.
   - Useful for staging specific parts of a file.

2. **Restore Changes:**
   ```sh
   git restore <file>
   ```
   - Discards changes in the working directory.
   - For example, `git restore README.md` will revert changes to the file.

3. **Remove Files:**
   ```sh
   git rm <file>
   ```
   - Stages the removal of files from the repository.
   - For example, `git rm old_file.txt` will remove and stage `old_file.txt` for deletion.

4. **Check Logs:**
   ```sh
   git log
   ```
   - Shows commit history.
   ```sh
   git log --oneline --graph --decorate --all
   ```
   - Provides a visual representation of commit history.

5. **Branching and Merging:**
   ```sh
   git branch
   ```
   - Lists all branches.
   ```sh
   git branch new-branch
   ```
   - Creates a new branch.
   ```sh
   git checkout new-branch
   ```
   - Switches to the specified branch.
   ```sh
   git checkout -b new-branch
   ```
   - Creates and switches to a new branch.
   ```sh
   git merge new-branch
   ```
   - Merges the specified branch into the current branch.

6. **Rebasing:**
   ```sh
   git rebase main
   ```
   - Integrates changes from another branch, maintaining a linear history.
   - Use `git pull --rebase` to keep your branch updated.

7. **Stashing:**
   ```sh
   git stash
   ```
   - Temporarily saves changes.
   ```sh
   git stash apply
   ```
   - Applies stashed changes.
   ```sh
   git stash list
   ```
   - Lists all stashes.

8. **Resetting:**
   ```sh
   git reset --soft HEAD~1
   ```
   - Moves HEAD to the previous commit, keeping changes in the working directory.
   ```sh
   git reset --hard HEAD~1
   ```
   - Moves HEAD to the previous commit and discards changes.

9. **Tagging:**
   ```sh
   git tag v1.0
   ```
   - Creates a tag.
   ```sh
   git push origin v1.0
   ```
   - Pushes the tag to the remote repository.

10. **Reverting:**
    ```sh
    git revert <commit>
    ```
    - Creates a new commit that undoes changes of a specific commit.
    - For example, `git revert abc1234` will undo changes from commit `abc1234`.

### Best Practices

1. **Write Meaningful Commit Messages:**
   - Use the imperative mood: "Fix bug" instead of "Fixed bug".
   - Separate subject from body with a blank line.
   - Limit the subject line to 50 characters.

2. **Use Branches for Features and Bug Fixes:**
   - Keep your main branch clean and stable.

3. **Regularly Pull and Rebase:**
   - Keep your branch up to date with the main branch by regularly pulling and rebasing.

4. **Review Changes Before Committing:**
   - Use `git diff` to review changes before staging and committing them.

### Additional Tools and Resources

1. **Graphical Interfaces:**
   - Tools like GitKraken, Sourcetree, or GitHub Desktop can help visualize changes and manage branches.

2. **Learning Resources:**
   - Books: "Pro Git" by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub.
   - Online Courses: GitHub Learning Lab, Codecademy, and Udacity.

3. **Automation with Git Hooks:**
   - Automate tasks with Git hooks (e.g., pre-commit, post-commit).
   ```sh
   # .git/hooks/pre-commit
   #!/bin/sh
   npm test
   ```

Implementing these advanced commands and best practices will help you become more proficient with Git, making version control and collaboration smoother and more efficient.