Notes on Git/GitHub Revised P1
Git Mastery: From Beginner to Intermediate
Section 1: Introduction to Git & Version Control
What is Git?
Git is a distributed version control system that allows multiple people to collaborate on code, track changes, and revert to previous versions if necessary.
Why Use Git?
Imagine you are writing a book. Without version control, you might:
- Save multiple copies like
book_v1.docx,book_v2_final.docx,book_v3_really_final.docx. - Lose track of what changes were made and when.
- Have trouble collaborating with co-authors.
With Git, you:
✅ Track all changes automatically.
✅ Roll back to previous versions easily.
✅ Work with multiple people on the same files.
Key Concepts
| Concept | Explanation | |———–|————-| | Repository (Repo) | A Git project, like a folder containing all files and their history. | | Commit | A saved change, like a checkpoint in your project. | | Branch | A separate version of the project that allows independent work without affecting the main version. | | Merge | Combining branches back together. | | Remote | A version of your repository stored online (like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket). |
Installing Git
To check if Git is installed, run:
git --version
If not installed, download it from git-scm.com and follow the installation steps.
Setting Up Git (First Time Only)
After installing Git, configure your identity:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
To verify:
git config --list
Section 2: Initializing and Managing a Git Repository
Creating a New Git Repository
1️⃣ Initialize a repository:
git init
This creates a hidden .git folder, where Git stores all version history.
2️⃣ Check the status of your repository:
git status
This tells you whether files are tracked, untracked, or staged.
3️⃣ Adding files to tracking:
git add filename.txt
or add all files:
git add .
4️⃣ Committing changes:
git commit -m "Initial commit"
A commit is like a checkpoint in your project.
Real-Life Scenario
Imagine you’re writing an essay.
- You draft the first version (adding files to Git).
- You save a checkpoint before making big changes (commit).
- You can go back if you make a mistake (Git lets you revert to previous commits).