git-add-p-interactive-staging.md

Git interactive staging (add -p)

Interactive staging (or git add -p) is one of a few Git interactive commands I became so fond of recently (another one I use quite frequently over the years is git rebase -i).

In few words it displays the diff hunks and provides options either to stage all hunks, edit each one etc..

Example

Initial repo

λ /tmp/tmp.KCvUH5bMFv/repo/ master* git st
## master
 M bash-check-port--dev-tcp.md

Let's choose to dit the hunk'

λ /tmp/tmp.KCvUH5bMFv/repo/ master* git add -p
diff --git a/bash-check-port--dev-tcp.md b/bash-check-port--dev-tcp.md
index d9c5634..2400f05 100644
--- a/bash-check-port--dev-tcp.md
+++ b/bash-check-port--dev-tcp.md
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 # Shell: check tcp port

-Periodically I find myself in th need to check for TCP port availability; and
+Periodically I find myself in the need to check for TCP port availability; and
 no convenient tools available and not possible to install one.

-Usually I use `netcat -z -v cidrc port` or telnet.
-
 Lately I've found quite useful some under-appreciated feature of `bash` shell.
 See [/dev/tcp][dev-tcp].

Stage this hunk [y,n,q,a,d,/,j,J,g,s,e,?]? e

Please note, we have chosen e (e stands for edit).

Hunk edit mode Please pay attention to the notes below.

# Manual hunk edit mode -- see bottom for a quick guide
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 # Shell: check tcp port

-Periodically I find myself in th need to check for TCP port availability; and
+Periodically I find myself in the need to check for TCP port availability; and
 no convenient tools available and not possible to install one.

-Usually I use `netcat -z -v cidrc port` or telnet.
-
 Lately I've found quite useful some under-appreciated feature of `bash` shell.
 See [/dev/tcp][dev-tcp].

# ---
# To remove '-' lines, make them ' ' lines (context).
# To remove '+' lines, delete them.
# Lines starting with # will be removed.
#
# If the patch applies cleanly, the edited hunk will immediately be
# marked for staging. If it does not apply cleanly, you will be given
# an opportunity to edit again. If all lines of the hunk are removed,
# then the edit is aborted and the hunk is left unchanged.

More information

It's not very easy describe the feature literally in few words, so will leave the link to git scm book here https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Tools-Interactive-Staging