Guides To Git For Beginner

Written by Laurensius Jeffrey on February 21, 2024

Introduction

Welcome to the beginner's guide to Git! In this guide, we will cover the basics of Git and how to get started with version control in your projects.

What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system that allows multiple people to collaborate on a project while keeping track of changes made to the codebase. It provides a way to manage and track different versions of your code, making it easier to work on projects with others and revert to previous versions if needed.

Installation

To get started with Git, you'll need to install it on your machine. Here are the steps to install Git:

  1. Visit the official Git website at https://git-scm.com/ and download the appropriate version for your operating system.
  2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
  3. Once the installation is complete, open a terminal or command prompt and type git --version to verify that Git has been installed successfully.

Basic Git Commands

Git provides a set of commands that you can use to interact with your code repository. Here are some of the basic Git commands you'll need to know:

  • git init: Initializes a new Git repository in your project directory.
  • git add <file>: Adds a file to the staging area, ready to be committed.
  • git commit -m "<message>": Commits the changes in the staging area to the repository with a descriptive message.
  • git status: Shows the current status of your repository, including any changes that have been made.
  • git log: Displays a log of all the commits that have been made in the repository.

Branching and Merging

One of the powerful features of Git is the ability to create branches, which allow you to work on different features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase. Here's how you can create and merge branches in Git:

  • git branch <branch-name>: Creates a new branch with the specified name.
  • git checkout <branch-name>: Switches to the specified branch.
  • git merge <branch-name>: Merges the changes from the specified branch into the current branch.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You now have a basic understanding of Git and how to get started with version control in your projects. Remember to practice using Git regularly to become more comfortable with its commands and workflows.

Happy coding!