# Git Basics

## git push — remote vs branch syntax

**Problem:** `git push -u main` throws:
fatal: 'main' does not appear to be a git repository
fatal: Could not read from remote repository.

**Diagnosis:** Git expected a remote name but got a branch name.

**Fix:**
git push -u origin main

**Key insight:** The syntax is always remote first, branch second.
`origin` = where to push (the remote repository)
`main` = which branch to push
`-u` = sets origin/main as the default tracking branch,
so future pushes only need `git push`