A quick guide to Git: basic concepts and commands

Git is a distributed version control system used for managing changes in projects. It is the most popular and free tool that stores code and its change history. We will look at the basics of Git and its main commands, such as commits, branches, and merges.

Git allows you to track code changes and collaborate with other developers. Git differs from other version control systems in that each developer has a local copy of the entire repository, not just the latest version of the code. This allows for independent work and changes without access to a central server. Git also provides powerful tools for working with branches, allowing multiple features to be developed simultaneously and merged into a single codebase. Overall, Git is an indispensable tool for software developers, greatly simplifying and accelerating the development process.

Key Concepts:

• Repository: The place where your code and all its changes are stored.
• Commit: A saved version of your code.
• Branch: A version of the repository that allows you to work on new features without affecting the main code.
• Merge: Combining changes from different branches.
• Remote Repository: A repository stored on a server (e.g., GitHub).

Main Tasks of Git:

• Saving code and change history.
• Storing information about users who change the code.
• Ability to roll back the code to any version.
• Ability to merge different versions and changes.
• Preparing the final code for release.

Main Commands:

• git init: Initialize a new repository. Creates a new repository by adding a hidden .git folder where all data and change history are stored.
• git clone [url]: Clone an existing remote repository.
• git status: Check the status of files in the repository.
• git add [file]: Add a file to the index (staging).
• git commit -m "Message": Save changes with a comment. A commit contains information about changed files, the author of the changes, and the time the changes were made.
• git push: Send changes to the remote repository.
• git pull: Get changes from the remote repository and combine them with the local one.
• git branch: View existing branches.
• git checkout [branch]: Switch between branches.
• git merge [branch]: Merge the selected branch with the current one.

Using GitHub:

GitHub is one of many services based on Git. It can be imagined as a social network for developers, where they review each other's code, help in development, leave comments, etc.

GitHub allows you to:

• Store code.
• Use tools for collaboration.
• Evaluate other developers' work.
• Create private and public repositories.

Creating and Working with Repositories:

• Registering an Account: The registration process is quick, you need to enter a username/password and email. After registration, you can create a repository.
• Creating a Repository: Click the "+" button, then "New repository." Enter the name, choose "Public" or "Private," and click "Create Repository."
• Adding Files and Commits: You can add files to the repository, make changes, and commit them using the git add and git commit commands.
• Publishing Changes: Use git push to send changes to the remote repository.

Using GitHub Desktop:

GitHub Desktop is a tool that allows you to manage your local repository on a PC.

Switching Between Branches and Branching:

One of Git's key features is the ability to work with multiple branches simultaneously. Switching between them allows developers to create new features, fix bugs, and test them without touching the project's main branch. To switch between branches, use the git checkout command. This allows you to select the desired branch and start working with it.

Git is not only a set of tools but also a development philosophy. Using references, branches, and tags can greatly simplify working on a project and improve the development team's efficiency.

Do you have other favorite Git commands you want to share? Write in the comments!

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