Git is the industry-standard version control system. It allows multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously without overwriting each other’s work. It tracks every modification to the code in a special kind of database.
How Git Works
Git works on a branching model. The main code lives in a branch (usually main or master). Developers create “feature branches” to work on new things. Once tested, these branches are “merged” back into the main code.
Essential Commands
git init: Starts a new repository.git clone: Copies a repository from a remote source.git add: Stages changes.git commit: Saves the staged changes with a message.git push: Uploads local commits to a remote server (like GitHub).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between Git and GitHub? Git is the software tool installed on your computer. GitHub is a cloud service that hosts Git repositories. Think of it like “MP3” (Git) vs “Spotify” (GitHub).
2. What is a “Merge Conflict”? A conflict occurs when two developers change the exact same line of code in different ways. Git cannot decide which one is correct, so a human must resolve it manually.
3. Is Git only for code? No, Git can track changes in any text files (like Markdown, TXT, CSV). However, it is not efficient for large binary files like videos or images.
4. What does “Open Source” mean in relation to Git? Many projects hosted on GitHub are Open Source, meaning anyone can view the code, copy it, and suggest improvements via “Pull Requests”.
5. Can I undo a commit in Git?
Yes. Commands like git revert, git reset, and git checkout allow you to go back in time to previous versions of your project if you made a mistake.