Git’s error messages can be confusing to understand, but there are some great strategies to help decode them. Git status clarifies the current branch state, and git log helps examine commits and identify divergence points. You can also customize your shell prompt to display branch status, which can be helpful.

The default 7-character length of Git hashes can lead to collisions in large repos like the Linux kernel. This article analyzes the distribution of abbreviation lengths, finding that while most commits can use short abbreviations, a large number require longer ones (up to 11 currently). It recommends using at least 12 characters for large repositories and referencing full Git hashes if possible.

Linus Torvalds emphasizes the importance of data structures over code in software development since good data structures lead to better code design and maintainability. This author supports this view with personal experience, describing how restructuring data in a project allowed the team to move faster in the long run. This prioritization is also how Git grew to be the dominant version control system.

Git 2.38 introduced the --update-refs feature to streamline the process of rebasing stacked branches. This new feature automatically updates dependent branches when the base branch is rebased, eliminating the need for manual rebasing and potential conflicts. It can be used in various scenarios, including rebasing a stack of branches, updating stacked branches on a changed branch, and interactive rebasing.