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File Lifecycle

What is it?

In Git, files go through a specific lifecycle. They are not simply "saved" or "unsaved". They move through different areas: Untracked, Working Directory, Staging Area, and Repository.

Why do we use it?

Understanding this lifecycle is the secret to mastering Git. It explains why we have to run add before commit.

The Lifecycle Stages

  1. Untracked: A brand new file. Git doesn't know it exists yet.
  2. Tracked (Modified): A file Git knows about, which has been changed but not added to the Staging Area.
  3. Staged: A file that is ready to be committed.
  4. Committed: The file is safely stored in the local Git database.

Basic Workflow

flowchart LR
    A[Untracked / Modified] -->|git add| B[Staged]
    B -->|git commit| C[Committed]
    C -->|Edit File| A
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Quick Summary

  • Working Directory: Where you type your code.
  • Staging Area: Where you prepare files for saving.
  • Repository: Where files are permanently saved as commits.

Diagram

stateDiagram-v2
    [*] --> Untracked : Create new file
    Untracked --> Staged : git add
    Staged --> Committed : git commit
    Committed --> Modified : Edit file
    Modified --> Staged : git add
    Modified --> Committed : git restore (discard changes)
    Staged --> Modified : git restore --staged (unstage)
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