Git - Version Control System
Introduction to Git
Git is a free and open-source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It's the de facto standard for source code management.
Key features include:
- Distributed: Every developer has a full backup of the repository.
- Speed: Git is fast, thanks to its C implementation and efficient data structures.
- Branching and Merging: Git's branching model is lightweight and powerful, enabling flexible workflows.
- Data Integrity: Git ensures the integrity of your code history through SHA-1 hashing.
Core Concepts
Understanding Git involves grasping a few fundamental concepts:
- Repository (Repo): A collection of files and their revision history.
- Commit: A snapshot of your project at a specific point in time.
- Branch: An independent line of development.
- Merge: Combining changes from one branch into another.
- Staging Area: An intermediate area where you prepare changes for the next commit.
Essential Git Commands
Here are some of the most commonly used Git commands:
Initialize a Repository
git init
Creates a new Git repository in the current directory.
Clone a Repository
git clone [url]
Copies an existing Git repository from a remote source.
Add Files to Staging
git add [file]
Stages changes in a file to be included in the next commit.
Commit Changes
git commit -m "Your commit message"
Saves the staged changes to the repository history.
View Status
git status
Shows the current state of your working directory and staging area.
View History
git log
Displays the commit history of the repository.
Create a Branch
git branch [branch-name]
Creates a new branch for new features or experiments.
Switch Branches
git checkout [branch-name]
Switches to a different branch.
Merge Branches
git merge [branch-name]
Integrates changes from one branch into the current branch.
Fetch Remote Changes
git fetch
Downloads commits, files, and refs from a remote repository.
Pull Remote Changes
git pull
Fetches from and integrates with another repository or a local branch.
Push Local Commits
git push
Updates remote refs along with associated objects.
Further Learning
This is just a brief overview. For comprehensive information and advanced topics, please refer to the official Git documentation:
You can also explore interactive tutorials and community resources online.