Version Control

Version control is a tool that helps you keep track of changes in your code over time. Think of it like a shared document where multiple people can work together, make edits, and still be able to go back to earlier versions if needed. It’s especially useful when working in a team, as it helps manage updates, avoid conflicts, and keep everything organized. In the long run, it makes the development process smoother and more efficient.

Git

Git is a distributed version control system that's completely free and open-source. It’s used to track changes in files and manage project history, especially when multiple people are contributing to the same codebase.

Repository

A repository is basically a folder that stores all your project files and their version history which are called commits.

Commits

A commit is like a save point that captures the current state of your project. Each commit has a unique ID and you can look back at previous commits to see what changes were made and when.

Branches

Branches let you work on different features or big-fixes separately without affecting the main code. Eventually, changes from a branch can be merged back into the main branch.

How to setup Git for you linux/windows device

On Linux - Ubuntu/Mint/Debian

# Install Git using these commands
sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

On Windows -

Download Git from - https://git-scm.com/downloads/win
Run the installer.

Verify git installation -

git --version

Configure your Git -

# open you bash or terminal and run the following commands
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "Your email"

Git commands you should know

# Initialize a new Git repository
git init

# Clone a remote repository to your local machine
git clone <repo-url>

# Check the current status of your files
git status

# Add a specific file to the staging area
git add <filename>

# Add all changes to the staging area
git add .

# Commit the staged changes with a message
git commit -m "Your commit message here"

# View the commit history
git log

# List all local branches
git branch

# Create a new branch
git branch <branch-name>

# Switch to an existing branch
git checkout <branch-name>

# Create and switch to a new branch in one command
git checkout -b <new-branch-name>

# Merge a branch into the current branch
git merge <branch-name>

# Downloads latest changes but without merging them into the current branch
git fetch

# Fetch and merge changes from the remote repo
git pull

# Push your commits to the remote repo
git push

Common things to remember while working with Git

Commit often and push it to your remote branch.
Write clear commit messages.
Do not push directly to the main branch.
Use branches for features or bug-fix.

Introduction to GIT