Beyond `git add`: 10 Senior Habits to Master Git as a Superpower | Markdown Memoirs

Introduction: Git Is Much More than `git add . && git commit -m "fix"`

If you've been around the block a few times, you already know Git. You've cloned a repository, pushed some changes, perhaps even busted up a few merge conflicts. But here's the dirty little secret: understanding the Git commands doesn't necessarily mean working effectively with Git.

Experienced engineers don't view Git as a task; they think about it as a power tool. They use it to report a project's history, avoid catastrophes, and collaboration becomes second nature. Junior devs think about Git as a backup repository — something that preserves their code. Experienced engineers think about Git as a layer of communication, as a safety, and as a productivity multiplier.

In this post, we're going to explore working with Git like an experienced engineer — beyond memorizing commands, but embracing habits and mentalities that make you a more productive collaborator.

1. Write Commits Like a Pro Storyteller

A Git history is bigger than a log — it's the story behind your project. Shoddy commits make for dirty timelines that no coder is willing to debug. A master uses each commit as a significant move.

Rules for Pro Commits:

Atomic commits: Each commit must be one logical change. Do not combine fixing a bug and updating the docs together.
Descriptive messages: Rather than fix things, write Fix null pointer exception when user ID is absent.
Use present tense: "Add validation" instead of "Added validation."

Good Example of a Commit Message:

feat(auth): Add JWT expiration check middleware

  - Ensure expired tokens return 401 Unauthorized
  - Add unit tests for expired and malformed tokens
  - Update documentation with example requests

This then, allows a reader, months later, to scan the history and understand your line of thinking without needing to reverse-engineer your code.

2. Branch With Purpose, Not Panic

Branches are not trash bins for "whatever I'm working on." They're collaboration and clarity tools.

Senior Engineers Use Branching Strategies to Prevent Chaos:

Feature branches: Use to add new features (feature/user-profile).
Bugfix branches: For selective fixes (bugfix/payment-timeout).
Hotfix branches: Reserved for severe production-related problems (hotfix/critical-api-bug).
Release branches: Backing up code before a formal release.

And they keep branches short. A branch that remains alive for weeks becomes a merge conflict horror. Choose a naming convention and be consistent. It's not about perfection; it's about consistency across the team.

3. Rebase vs. Merge: Understand the Concept

This divides the dabblers from the veterans.

Merge: Combines histories, leaves all the commits exactly as they occurred. Good for preserving team collaboration context.
Rebase: Re-scripts history to be linear. Ideal to clean up before merging into the main branch.

A junior engineer combines blindly. A senior combines knowing when to rebase to keep the history neat and when to merge to preserve collaboration context.

Crucial Rule: Do not rebase a branch that someone else is working on. That's the way to get angry Slack emails.

4. Convert `git log` into Your Friend

Senior engineers don't just push and forget. They use Git history to see what they pushed and why.

Helpful Commands:

git log --oneline --graph --decorate: Visualizes history in a clean, readable format.
git blame <file>: Shows who last touched each line (useful for debugging, not for shaming).
git bisect: A lifesaver the next time your team wonders where that pesky bug came from.

Understanding these commands makes you the "Git detective" when things break.

5. Conflict Resolution Considered (and Serene)

Merge conflicts are a certainty. The variable is the approach you take.

Mastering Conflicts:

Don't panic. Conflicts don't mean your repo is busted.
Use the git mergetool or IDE integrations to fix them visually.
Write descriptive conflict resolutions in your commits so that people understand what changed.

And if you're always swimming in conflicts? That's a symptom your branches live too long. Rebase more regularly.

6. Utilize Git Hooks to Automate the Humdrum Stuff

Experienced engineers never trust their memories for repetitive work. They automate.

Git hooks allow scripts to be executed at significant points (such as before pushing or committing). Examples:

Run tests before pushing: Keep broken code away from the main repository.
Enforce commit message convention: No more "asdf" commits.
Auto-format code: Ensure consistent style across the team.

Example pre-commit hook (.git/hooks/pre-commit):

#!/bin/sh
pytest || exit 1

Now, no commit will be allowed unless tests pass.

7. Use Stashing Judiciously

You're working on a feature when a teammate requests that you resolve a production bug.

Junior engineers panic. Senior engineers stash.

git stash
git checkout main
# Fix bug
git checkout feature-branch
git stash pop

This workflow keeps you productive without leaving half-baked work behind. Do, however, treat the stash pile as a junk drawer — regularly clean it out.

8. Do Not Fear `git reflog`

Accidentally deleted a branch? Lost the wrong commit during a hard reset? Don't panic.

git reflog logs all the movements your Git has ever made, even those that don't appear in standard history.

Example Rescue:

git reflog
git checkout <commit-hash>

It's like a time machine back to your errors. Experienced engineers understand that this command is a lifesaver.

9. Working Alongside Pull Requests as a Seasoned Pro

Pull requests (PRs) are more than a mere formality — they're a critical line of communication.

Hallmarks of Good PRs:

Focused and small (harder to review large PRs).
An explicit definition of the "why" behind the change.
Use screenshots or results, if appropriate.
Reviewer tags are considerate (don't spam the whole team).

Experienced engineers do not merely commit code; they enable other people to see and trust it.

10. Take Up a "Clean as You Go" Mentality

Git is not just commands; it's discipline. Healthy repos are kept by senior engineers:

Remove merged branches.
Do not commit secrets (use .gitignore and tools such as git-secrets).
Squash senseless commits before merge (fix typo, oops, update).
Check review history regularly to identify patterns or anti-patterns.

It keeps your Git repository a long-term benefit, rather than a liability.

Conclusion: Git as a Superpower

Anyone can learn Git commands. What distinguishes a senior engineer is how they leverage Git as a comms tool, a safety blanket, and a productivity gain.

By committing succinctly, branching intentionally, running advanced commands, and embracing healthy habits, you unleash Git as a superpower instead of a backup system.

Next time you're working your terminal, ask yourself this question: Am I working with Git as a junior who just needs their code to be saved, or as a senior who's creating a solid history for the entire team?

Begin practicing the habits of seniors today. Your future self — and your team — will be glad.

Don't just push code. Push clarity, trust, and craftsmanship on every Git command.

Introduction: Git Is Much More than git add . && git commit -m "fix"