How do i see the differences after I have added a file, but not committed it?

giraffelife

There are time in the git repository where you may have been multitasking and come back to a git repo, the first thing you do of course is? yes, a git status, to see where your at.

$ git status
On branch master
Changes to be committed:
  (use "git reset HEAD <file>..." to unstage)

	modified:   README.md

The lines above show you've modified the README.md file but not committed it, but you totally forgot what you changed, if it's a massive file you can trawl through the file using vi, or run a git diff using a special switch.

Normal diff returns nothing, because the file is ready for committing and is in the staged area, before commit.

$ git diff

So the command to run is, as below, the + pluses tell you what you changed.

$ git diff --staged
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4ba7d0a..9f28333 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@ Second Line: When I get back from running I'm tired
 Third Line: I got straight to bed
 
 Fourth Line: and I dream of running the marathon
+
+Fifth Line:  but I don't dress up in a silly costume I'm a serious runner