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Hug SCM for Developers: A Practical Guide

Git is powerful, but its commands can feel overwhelming. Enter Hug SCM – a humane interface that makes version control intuitive and safe. This guide walks you through real-world scenarios using Hug, so you can focus on coding, not memorizing Git syntax.

What is Hug SCM and Why Should You Care?

Imagine accidentally deleting code, breaking a feature during experimentation, or clashing changes in a team. Hug solves these by wrapping Git in simple, descriptive commands like hug s for status or hug w discard to safely undo mistakes.

Hug is your friendly time machine for code: track changes, experiment fearlessly, and collaborate smoothly – all with natural language commands.

Mnemonic + Workflow Legend

  • Bold letters in command names highlight the initials that make each alias (for example, hug slStatus + List).
  • Multi-step workflows appear as ordered lists so you can scan the path before executing commands.
  • For deep dives, pair this guide with references like Status & Staging (s*, a*) or Working Directory (w*).

Workflow Cheat Sheet

ScenarioCommand FlowWhy it works
Start a fresh projecthug shug ahug cSnapshot new files, stage cleanly, commit with context.
Park work before a hotfixhug wip "WIP message"hug bc hotfixhug bsSave all changes on a dated WIP branch (pushable!), branch off, then resume later. Preferred over stash for persistence.
Park and continue deep workhug wips "msg"hug chug w unwip <wip>Isolates experiments; stay for momentum, integrate cleanly.
Review before pushinghug sshug suhug swCompare staged vs unstaged diffs, then ship confidently.
Clean up experimentshug w backuphug w discard-allhug w purgeSave a safety net, drop tracked edits, prune generated junk.
Undo a public mistakehug lhug revert <sha>hug bpushFind the bad commit, revert it, and push the fix upstream.

Getting Started: Your First Repository

Use Case 1: Starting a New Project

Scenario: You're creating a new project and want to track your code from the beginning.

Steps:

  1. Initialize the repository: hug init
  2. Check status: hug s
  3. Stage all files: hug aa
  4. Commit: hug c "Initial commit"
  5. Push to remote: hug bpush

Why it works: This workflow ensures you capture all files (including new ones) in your first commit, establishing a clean baseline for future changes.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug sStatus snapshot
  • hug aaAdd All
  • hug cCommit
  • hug bpushBranch Push

Git equivalents:

  • hug init = git init
  • hug s = git status
  • hug aa = git add -A
  • hug c = git commit -m
  • hug bpush = git push origin <branch>

Use Case 2: Making Your First Changes

Scenario: You've made some code changes and want to commit them.

Steps:

  1. Check status: hug s
  2. Stage changes: hug a
  3. Commit: hug c "Add login feature"
  4. Push: hug bpush

Why it works: This workflow helps you review changes before committing, ensuring you only include what you intend to.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug sStatus snapshot
  • hug aAdd tracked
  • hug cCommit
  • hug bpushBranch Push

Git equivalents:

  • hug s = git status
  • hug a = git add -u
  • hug c = git commit -m
  • hug bpush = git push origin <branch>

Scenario: Patch-and-Push

Goal: Ship a small change without noise.

  1. hug sl to verify tracked files.
  2. hug ap to stage only the relevant hunk.
  3. hug ss to double-check the staged diff, then hug c "Describe change".
  4. hug bpush to publish.

Working with Remote Repositories (GitHub)

Use Case 3: Undoing Mistakes

Scenario: You've made a mistake and want to undo it.

Sub-scenarios:

  • Undo last commit (keep changes staged): hug h back (HEAD Back)
  • Undo last commit (keep changes unstaged): hug h undo (HEAD Undo)
  • Discard uncommitted changes: hug w discard <file> (Working dir Discard)
  • Full cleanup: hug w zap-all (Working dir Zap All)

Steps for undoing last commit (keep staged):

  1. Run hug h back (HEAD Back) to soft reset HEAD, keeping changes staged.
  2. Inspect with hug ss (Status Staged).
  3. Re-commit: hug c "Fixed message" (Commit).

Why it works: Non-destructive; lets you adjust without losing work.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug h backHEAD Back (soft reset, staged)
  • hug h undoHEAD Undo (mixed reset, unstaged)
  • hug w discardWorking dir Discard (local changes)
  • hug w zap-allWorking dir Zap All (nuclear clean)

Git equivalents:

  • hug h back = git reset --soft HEAD~1
  • hug h undo = git reset --mixed HEAD~1
  • hug w discard <file> = git checkout HEAD -- <file>
  • hug w zap-all = git reset --hard HEAD && git clean -fd

Use Case 4: Cloning a Project to Work On

Joining a team or open source?

Steps:

  1. Clone: git clone https://github.com/company/project-name.git
  2. Navigate: cd project-name
  3. Check branches: hug bl (Branch List)
  4. Start working: # ... make changes ...
  5. Stage all: hug aa (Add All)
  6. Commit: hug c "Fix navigation bug" (Commit)
  7. Push: hug bpush (Branch Push)

Why it works: Gets you up-to-date and contributing quickly.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug blBranch List
  • hug aaAdd All (including new files)
  • hug cCommit
  • hug bpushBranch Push (with upstream)

Git equivalents:

  • hug bl = git branch
  • hug aa = git add -A
  • hug c = git commit -m
  • hug bpush = git push -u origin <branch>

Branching: Experimenting Safely

Use Case 5: Adding a New Feature

Add a blog without risking your main site.

Steps:

  1. Create and switch: hug bc add-blog-section (Branch Create)
  2. Make changes: touch blog.html # ... add blog code ...
  3. Stage: hug a blog.html (Add)
  4. Commit: hug c "Add blog page with recent posts" (Commit)
  5. Switch back: hug bs (Branch Switch back)
  6. Switch to main: hug b main (Branch)
  7. Merge: hug m add-blog-section (Merge)
  8. Delete: hug bdel add-blog-section (Branch Delete)

Why it works: Branches isolate work; merge integrates safely.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug bcBranch Create & switch
  • hug aAdd tracked
  • hug cCommit
  • hug bsBranch Switch back
  • hug bBranch switch
  • hug mMerge
  • hug bdelBranch Delete (safe)

Git equivalents:

  • hug bc = git checkout -b

  • hug a = git add -u

  • hug c = git commit -m

  • hug bs = git checkout -

  • hug m = git merge

  • hug bdel = git branch -d

    Use Case 6: Working on Multiple Features

    Building a contact form and header redesign?

    Steps:

    1. Branch for contact: hug bc contact-form (Branch Create)
    2. Work: # ... work on contact form ...
    3. Stage: hug a contact.html (Add)
    4. Commit: hug c "Add contact form" (Commit)
    5. Switch back: hug bs (Branch Switch back)
    6. New branch: hug bc redesign-header (Branch Create)
    7. For a spike: hug wips "Test header variant" → Stay and experiment, then hug bs to park mid-way.
    8. Work: # ... work on header ...
    9. Stage: hug a styles.css index.html (Add)
    10. Commit: hug c "Redesign header with new logo" (Commit)
    11. View: hug bl (Branch List)
    12. Switch: hug b main (Branch)
    13. Merge first: hug m contact-form (Merge)
    14. Merge second: hug m redesign-header (Merge)

    Why it works: Easy switching keeps features isolated.

    Mnemonic breakdown:

    • hug bcBranch Create & switch
    • hug aAdd
    • hug cCommit
    • hug bsBranch Switch back
    • hug blBranch List
    • hug bBranch switch
    • hug mMerge

    Git equivalents:

    • hug bc = git checkout -b
    • hug a = git add -u
    • hug c = git commit -m
    • hug bs = git checkout -
    • hug bl = git branch
    • hug m = git merge

Collaboration Scenarios

Use Case 7: Team Development Workflow

Working with teammates on an e-commerce site.

Steps:

  1. Update: hug bpull (Branch Pull)
  2. Branch: hug bc add-shopping-cart (Branch Create)
  3. Work: # ... build shopping cart ...
  4. Stage: hug a cart.js cart.html (Add)
  5. Commit: hug c "Implement shopping cart functionality" (Commit)
  6. Push: hug bpush (Branch Push)
  7. Create PR on GitHub.
  8. After merge: hug b main (Branch)
  9. Update: hug bpull (Branch Pull)

Why it works: Syncs team changes, isolates your work.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug bpullBranch Pull (rebase)
  • hug bcBranch Create
  • hug aAdd
  • hug cCommit
  • hug bpushBranch Push
  • hug bBranch switch
  • hug bpullBranch Pull

Git equivalents:

  • hug bpull = git pull --rebase
  • hug bc = git checkout -b
  • hug a = git add
  • hug c = git commit -m
  • hug bpush = git push -u origin <branch>
  • hug b = git checkout

Use Case 8: Handling Merge Conflicts

You and a teammate edited the same file.

Steps:

  1. Merge: hug m teammate-branch (Merge)
  2. Hug reports: CONFLICT in styles.css
  3. Open styles.css: Edit markers like <<<<<<< HEAD
  4. Resolve, remove markers, save.
  5. Stage: hug a styles.css (Add)
  6. Commit: hug c "Resolve styling conflict" (Commit)

Why it works: Guides you through resolution safely.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug mMerge
  • hug aAdd
  • hug cCommit

Git equivalents:

  • hug m = git merge
  • hug a = git add
  • hug c = git commit -m

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Use Case 9: Undoing Changes

Changes not committed? Start over safely.

Steps:

  1. Discard file: hug w discard index.html (Working dir Discard)
  2. Discard all: hug w discard-all (Working dir Discard All)

Why it works: Targets exactly what you want to reset.

Mnemonic breakdown:

  • hug w discardWorking dir Discard (unstaged)
  • hug w discard-allWorking dir Discard All

Git equivalents:

  • hug w discard <file> = git checkout HEAD -- <file>
  • hug w discard-all = git checkout HEAD -- .

Use Case 10: Fixing Your Last Commit

Forgot a file or message typo?

shell
# Stage forgotten file
hug a forgotten-file.js

# Amend
hug cm "Corrected commit message"

Use Case 11: Precise Undo to Last File Change

Need to rewind exactly to when a file was last modified?

shell
# Find steps back
hug h steps src/app.js    # e.g., "2 steps back from HEAD..."

# Soft undo to that point (keep changes staged)
hug h back 2

# Inspect and re-commit
hug ss
hug c "Refactored app.js with fixes"

Use Case 12: Reverting a Pushed Commit

Broke production? Undo it.

shell
# Find commit
hug l

# Revert
hug revert abc1234

# Push revert
hug bpush

Advanced But Essential Commands

Use Case 13: Viewing Changes Before Committing

Review hours of work.

shell
# Uncommitted changes
hug sw

# Staged changes
hug ss

# Specific file
hug sw index.html

Use Case 14: Parking Your Work (Preferred Over Stash)

Use the WIP workflow to safely park uncommitted changes.

Scenario 1: You're interrupted by an urgent task. Use hug wip to safely park your uncommitted changes somewhere else and re-focus on a new task.

shell
# You are on the 'my-feature' branch and need to do a hotfix
hug wip "Pause feature work for hotfix"

# You still are on the same branch ('my-feature'), but now it's clean. Check out 'main' and create the hotfix.
hug b main
hug bc hotfix-123

Scenario 2: You were casually making some changes and now want to stay on it to get serious. Use hug wips to park your work on a new WIP branch and stay on it to continue iterating.

shell
# Move current uncommitted changes to a new WIP branch for a longer task
hug wips "Prototype new dashboard UI"

# You are now on the new WIP branch. Add more commits as you experiment.
hug a . && hug c "Add chart component"

Finishing Up:

  • To integrate your work: hug b main && hug w unwip <wip-branch-name>
  • To discard it: hug w wipdel <wip-branch-name>

For a full breakdown, see the WIP Workflow Guide.

Essential .gitignore Patterns

Add to .gitignore to exclude junk:

.gitignore
# Dependencies
node_modules/
vendor/

# Environment
.env
.env.local

# Builds
dist/
build/
*.min.js

# IDE
.vscode/
.idea/
*.swp

# OS
.DS_Store
Thumbs.db

# Logs
*.log
logs/

Stage it with hug a .gitignore.

Best Practices for Entry-Level Developers

1. Commit often, early
Small commits via hug c make debugging easier.

2. Meaningful messages
Bad: "fixed"
Good: "Fix login alignment on mobile" – Hug prompts you.

3. Pull before push
Use hug bpull to avoid conflicts.

4. Branch everything
hug bc feature – never touch main directly.

5. Review changes
hug sw before hug c.

6. No secrets
.gitignore + env vars, not commits.

7. Atomic commits
One change per hug c.

8. Park WIP on branches
Use hug wip "msg" for quick saves (switch back); hug wips "msg" to stay and iterate (e.g., hug c multiple times). Unpark with hug unwip for clean i ntegration; delete junk with hug wipdel.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

shell
# Setup
git init                   # Start repo
git clone <url>            # Copy repo

# Daily
hug s                      # Status
hug a <file>               # Stage file
hug aa                     # Stage all
hug c "msg"                # Commit
hug bpush                  # Push & upstream

# Branches
hug bl                     # List
hug bc <name>              # Create & switch
hug b <name>               # Switch
hug m <branch>             # Merge
# Inspect
hug l                      # History
hug sw                     # Working changes
hug ss                     # Staged changes

# Undo
hug w discard <file>       # Discard file
hug us <file>              # Unstage
hug cm "msg"               # Amend
hug h back                 # Undo commit, keep staged
hug h steps <file>         # Steps back to last file change (for precise undos)

# Park WIP (preferred over stash)
hug wip "msg"              # Save all changes on WIP branch, switch back
hug wips "msg"             # Save and stay on WIP branch
hug b WIP/<date>/<time>.<slug>        # Resume
hug unwip  WIP/<date>/<time>.<slug> # Unpark: squash-merge to current + delete
hug wipdel WIP/<date>/<time>.<slug> # Discard WIP branch

# Collab
hug bpull                  # Pull rebase
hug bpush                  # Push branch

Next Steps

Practice with a real project. Start solo, then contribute to open source. Hug makes Git approachable – hug s and hug l are your allies.

Tools like VS Code's Git integration work great with Hug. For servers without GUI, Hug's commands keep things simple.

Questions? Check hug --help or use the search bar. Happy coding!

Released under the Apache 2.0 License.