How to Create Git Aliases that Supercharge your Workflow

By Joel Dare ⟡ Updated December 4, 2025 Written March 17, 2025

Git has a built-in alias system that allows you to create custom commands, similar to npm run scripts or a simple alternative to a Makefile.

Why Use Git Aliases?

A Git alias can:

Run multiple commands in sequence
Simplify long or repetitive Git commands
Automate project-specific workflows

Example: Deploying a GitHub Pages Site

Let’s say we frequently update a GitHub Pages site stored in a /www directory. Normally, we would run:

git push origin main
git subtree push --prefix www origin gh-pages  

Instead, we can create a custom Git alias:

git config alias.deploy '!git push origin main && git subtree push --prefix www origin gh-pages'  

Now, we can deploy everything with a single command:

git deploy

How Git Aliases Work

Aliases prefixed with ! allow running shell commands.
They are stored in the repo’s .git/config file (or globally with --global).
You can check your alias with:

git config --get alias.deploy

Conclusion

Git aliases are a simple way to automate repetitive tasks. Whether you use them for deployments, logs, or rebases, they can speed up your workflow and keep commands consistent.