I though 'git status' was there to show difference between local repo and it's origin. I wanted to use it to see whether there IS anything to pull. Till now I am updating my local repo with 'git pull origin 8.0' which (as you also say) combines 'git fetch' and 'git merge' in one command. If I understand you correctly 'git status' does not compare my local with it's remote origin but just only returns info about my local repo (like whether I have changes made, i.e.), right?

Yes. What I mean local repo is "working tree". Check also https://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-status.html

I think I got the fetch, merge, pull magic now: fetch = download a new commit (without doing anything with it yet) merge = 'applying' the downloaded files (merging them with your local repo) pull = fetch & merge in one step

what is the advantage of doing 2-steps (git fetch, git merge)? A disadvantage might be that you download (fetch) data for all branches (7.0 & 8.0) even if you only need 8.0 (as in my case). I don't even have a clone of 7.0 even but apparently git fetch doesn't mind. So, for now I would be in favor of a git pull origin/8.0 (being said that I am a passive git user. I don't code anything, I only update my local installation from the remote origin)