Git Best Practices

Safety Rules

• Read-only by default: Prefer git status, git diff, git log, git show, git blame before making changes
• Push requires explicit request: Never push unless user asks
• Checkout allowed for: PR review, explicit user request
• Branch changes require consent: Ask before creating/switching branches
• History rewriting requires consent: Ask before commit --amend, interactive rebase, or force push (especially if anything may be shared)
• Destructive ops require explicit user consent:
  • Allow previews like git clean -n (no deletion); do not run git clean -fd without consent
  • Do not discard worktree changes with git reset --hard or git restore . without consent
  • Do not delete branches/tags or force push without consent

Preferred Commands

• Prefer modern porcelain: git switch (branches) and git restore (undo) when appropriate
• git restore --staged <path> is usually safe; discarding worktree changes (e.g., git restore .) requires explicit consent