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Before Git and version control. Developers often had to use drives to share and collaborate on project files with others. That was so hard to manage the project changes at that time. Until version control and Git came, we became able to track the changes of every file. And also know their history and who made that change. In this introduction, you will learn everything about Git. Such as its history, background, and the difference between it and GitHub, and so much more.

Anyway, in the following section, you will learn what Git is. So let's get started.

Git is a distributed version control system. It is used by developers to manage changes in code. It enables multiple individuals to contribute to a single project. This way, we avoid conflicts and the workflow is smooth. In Git, every user's copy is a fully-fledged repository with the full history of the project. So, the work is carried on even when offline. 

Git is heartily chosen by developers for efficient team collaboration and project integrity. It also allows you to easily roll back versions when necessary. In software development, Git is very popular. It can scale from a single developer to thousands of developers working on the same project.

In the following section, you will learn about the history of Git. Let's move on.

Linus Torvalds created Git in 2005. He has also built the Linux OS. So, Git was developed due to the demand for a distributed version control system. That action would ensure his team's reliability.

Before that, the Linux project was working with BitKeeper. At that time, there was an issue with BitKeeper that prompted the development of Git. Torvalds designed Git to be fast and decentralized.

It also had to be secure. Git soon enjoyed widespread adoption in the open-source community. It eventually emerged as the norm for model management. Git is used by developers all over the globe to manage projects of every scope.

So why must we use Git? Let us answer this question in the following section.

Here are the most recent responses for using Git:

Let's move into the section below to understand how it works.

To answer this question, we have to take a look at what a version control system is. And here is just an overview of that.

Basic concepts about version control similar to GIT. It records the history of project files. Resulting you being able to go back as many versions to the past if necessary. Just think of each change as a save point, or commit to the project history.

Git is a distributed architecture. Each developer has a full copy of the repository and its history. So this way, Git is decentralized and work continues even if offline. Git has a three (3)-level architecture, which consists of the working directory, staging area, and repository.

Working with Commits, Branches, and Merges

At a high level, commits are snapshots of your project at certain points in time. Branches work on different features that do not affect anything in the main project. Combining histories from one branch to another with changes is called merging. Branching and merging are really easy in Git, so it lends itself to parallel development.

So, what is GitHub? Let's move into the section below to learn more about GitHub.

GitHub is an online hosting platform for Git repositories. Developers who want to store and share code use it. GitHub comes with collaboration tools, like issue tracking and code review. It can also connect with continuous integration and deployment tools. Open-source projects are often hosted on GitHub. GitHub is where developers around the world write code.

So let's move into the following section to learn the differences between Git and GitHub.

Git acts at this level, being a version control system isolated for the user. Real-time tracking of your code changes right at your local machine. Well, GitHub is an online platform where Git repositories are hosted. It is a way to store and control code centrally online.

Git is local, handling your commits and branches in memory on your machine. However, this program requires an internet connection, unlike Git itself. It is mainly used for collaboration, code reviews, and issue tracking.

Git keeps the complete project history on your disk. But it saves the history of your project online instead; thus, you will access it from anywhere in the world on GitHub.

Collaboration using Git can be achieved. Because developers are able to merge changes from other branches locally. GitHub further scales this by providing features like code review, exchanging views, and issue trackers. That helps you make your group work more streamlined.

Git works on its own locally without being online. While GitHub works well with CI/CD services to automate testing and deployment processes. That improving a project's workflow.

As I mentioned in introduction, Git is a distributed version control system. Used by developers; it helps them in maintaining the different versions of code efficiently.

Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. The reason behind the creation of Ripple was to create a decentralized system.

Git supports branching and is all about easy collaboration and change tracking. It also allows for data security.

Git works by saving project history locally. Each user has a complete project repository.

What are commits, branches, and merges in Git?

Commits are saved versions of changes. Branches are created for parallel development. Merging is a way of combining the changes from branches.

What is the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git is a local version control system. GitHub is an online platform for hosting Git repositories.

How do Git and GitHub facilitate collaboration among developers?

Git allows merging local changes. GitHub adds features like code reviews and issue tracking.

What is a version control system, and why is it important?

A version control system records file history. It allows for easy reversion to previous versions.

How does Git ensure data integrity and security?

As it in the introduction section, Git uses SHA-1 hashing. This ensures data integrity and prevents unauthorized changes.

GitHub offers code hosting, issue tracking, and code reviews. It also integrates with CI/CD tools.

How does Git’s decentralization benefit developers?

Decentralization means each user has a full project history. This allows work to continue offline.

How does GitHub integrate with CI/CD tools?

GitHub connects with CI/CD services. This automates testing and deployment, improving workflow.

In this introduction, you understand what Git is and how it works. Here are the important key points.

Git provided a way for developers to pass files around before a shared drive after difficult management. Additionally, Git changed all this - where version control made it more usable so that changes were better kept track of and collaborated on. Git is a distributed system — this means you can perform work offline and still have the entire project history. This includes collaboration, branching, and data security checks. Git, which was originally designed by Linus Torvalds in 2005 as a distributed version control system.

The introduction also exposed the GitHub definition as it is — an online platform to host Git repositories, offering such things as code reviews and issue tracking. With Git working locally, GitHub centralizes the storage of code and integrates with CI/CD tools for automation. When used together, Git and GitHub make project management more efficient and help developers work better with each other.

Developers love the decentralization in Git since it permits offline work with a complete repository copy. GitHub enhances collaboration even more through continuous integration and deployment tools that are important in how we write software today.

Montasser Mossallem

Get started with Git and GitHub in this simple introduction. Learn how to use these tools for version control and team collaboration.

Git Introduction: Git and GitHub Explained Guide

Git Introduction

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Git Tutorial

Version control is critical in software projects. One such tool is Git, which has found target use among many users. Installing Git is the starting point. In this tutorial, we will go through installing Git on the most popular operating systems. Not to worry, the instructions were tailored for Windows users, but macOS and Linux users can also follow along. In the end, you will be able to handle your code over any platform.

Anyway, in the following section, you will learn about the system requirements before we start.

Before installing Git, ensure the following requirements are met on your operating system. Here’s what you need:

You should have internet in your system as you will require the files to be downloaded. Understanding these requirements will help you to have a painless experience while installing the tools.

If your operating system is all good, let's move into the section below to install Git in Windows OS.

If you are working on the Windows operating system, download the Git installer from its <a href="https://gitforwindows.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official site</a>.

When you open it you will see the screen as below.

Once you've downloaded it, double-click the installer to begin the installation procedure.

It will display a screen with some information regarding the installation license. You have to click on the "next" button to proceed.

It will display another screen with the destination location. To alter the location of the git package, click the "browse" button. But I propose that you keep the default choice and click the "next" button.

In the next screen, it will show you options for the program components.

Simply stick with the default options and click the "Next" button.

You will be able to choose the git bash default editor on the next screen. Simply choose "Use Vim as the default git editor" as the first option.

You have options to modify your path environment on this screen. Simply select the suggested choice and press the "next" button.

You will notice the SSH executable option in the following step. Simply leave it at the default setting.

You will see an additional option for the HTTP transport backend in the screen that follows. Simply select the default setting and press the "Next" button.

Additionally, you will see another choice to select the Windows command style on the screen that follows. Press the "Next" button to utilize the default.

In the final screen, after selecting the default selections, just click on the install button, as shown in the picture below.

Then click the Windows icon and search for git bash to launch git bash. An interface for the command line will open like the below image.

You can use a different program if you are not comfortable with the git bash instructions. It's called the Git GUI.

You may use the git bash command to find out the current version of git on your computer by typing the following command:

Let's go to the Ubuntu operating system installation procedure.

In this step, I'll install the GIT remote system using the Ubuntu apt package. Come on, let's do it.

Firstly, you must upgrade the current Ubuntu package. You must run the following command in the terminal to accomplish that.

Next, use the following command to begin the installation of Git:

The next git command must be executed to obtain the most recent version.

In the next section, I will switch to another popular OS and show you how Git can be installed there. Now, let's get started.

For Installing git bash on a macOS computer, you need to go through an <a href="https://git-scm.com/download/mac">official page</a>. and start the download process.

After it's done, follow the directions on the installer screen to begin the installation.

Installing the git control system via the terminal is quite simple; simply type the following command:

All right, let's get started with the local machine's git settings.

To provide the current user on the local computer and make this user known in every git project, use the following git commands. This command is used to configure the username in git.

Also, you can configure the email of your local repository by the command below.

In this tutorial, we have shown you how to install Git on the Windows operating system, Ubuntu and macOS. Here are the key points:

On Windows, you simply download the Git installer from the <a href="https://gitforwindows.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">official website</a>. After that follow up the installation steps by clicking on them to initiate downloading archive. Click "Next" through all of the prompts until you finish your steps. 

If you're not comfortable with Git Bash, choose the Git GUI.

You will also have noted that it is a little changed procedure if you are installing Git on Ubuntu but nothing overly complex. You will first update your system; then you install git itself, all through the terminal — a place where you type in commands. This involves a few commands like updating your package list, installing Git, etc. Then, you can confirm the installation of Git by checking out the version information to make sure everything is finished.

The same methods are used for macOS users. Git can be installed using Homebrew (which is convenient for some), or you may download Git directly from the official website. Homebrew is kind of like a magic wand to install software in Mac and all you need is one flick or command to get Git.

To verify whether Git is installed successfully, you need to run this short command: <code>git -v</code>.

Installing git on Windows or macOS, you have to download this installer from this link. To install git on Ubuntu, run the following command.

Installing Git on Windows, Ubuntu, MacOS

Installing Git

Git, A branch is a lightweight movable pointer to one of your commits. A feature or fix is thought of as a separate stream of development that you can work on without affecting code in the mainline. You can always create a separate branch and make changes of your own, without tampering with the actual code which will still remain intact until you decide to merge the work done.

In this tutorial you will understand how to create a new branch on your repository.

Git Branching is a space that Git gives to you for experimentation, adding features and changing without screwing up the production code. Every branch has their own story and can be then converge with other branches. It’s a simple concept in Git that improves the workflows of teams.

Here is a diagram shows you how the branch is added to the line of development.

You can create a new branch with the following Git command.

This command will create a new branch but is not in it yet. Suggestion: You can create the new branch and switch to it in one line.

This command creates the branch and switches you to it so that you can begin making your changes.

In this diagram, you will learn how this command pushes the new branch into the repository.

Moreover; while creating a new branch, all you need to remember are the few steps below only so that the branch name is understandable and straightforward. Well, the next section will learn you how to select good branch name.

Clear names are important so other people (or even you in a few months) can figure out what the heck this branch is all about. Here are some best practices:

If you follow these conventions, your Git history will be more legible, and your repository clean and organized so that anyone working on the project can navigate it without too much difficulty.

Creating a New Branch Over a Specific Commit

Using the git branch, you can create different branches on a particular commit like below This scenario will create a new branch that will point to the above-specified commit so this way it is created at that part of the project history.

By running this command&nbsp;<code>git reflog</code>, you can view the commit history and identify the commit you want to use as the base for your new branch.

When you have found the commit, make a new branch based on it with git branch followed by SHA of the commit.

For example, let’s say we want to create a new branch based on the commit with the SHA&nbsp;<code>70c5b73</code>. To do that, just run the following command.

This command creates a new branch called&nbsp;<code>new-branch-name</code>&nbsp;based on the commit with the SHA&nbsp;<code><code>70c5b73</code></code>.

You can move to the new branch with git checkout and begin hacking as you normally would.

Another way to think of it is that this command displays the entire rotating timeline (history) state of refs, and then you can reference a specific commit in order to consist on your new branch.

Let’s move into the following part to learn how to create a new branch based on a tag in the workflow.

Note that you can do the same in Git, creating a branch from any tag. It is also so much useful when you wish to work on a specified version of your codebase. You can create a separate branch from there windows itself by issuing git checkout and adding flag -b with new-branch name after that tag name as given below:- Here’s an example:

This command creates a new branch new-branch-name from the commit pointed to by&nbsp;<code>tag-name</code>&nbsp;and checks it out. From here, you can make modifications and commit them accordingly.

If the commit you would like to turn into a branch does NOT have a tag name matching that commit, an error will be shown. This means you should first create a tag or have the right name for that tag before trying to make it into a branch.

To list all available tag names in a Git repository, you can use the following command:

This will display a list of all tag names in alphabetical order. If you want to see the tags sorted by their commit dates, you can use the following command:

Anyway, after you understand what branching is, let’s move on to the next part, which addresses the conflict issue related to merging in git.

Branching&nbsp;in version control is a mechanism by which different development efforts can be loosely isolated from each other, such that certain changes (bugs vs features) do not impact others until they are ready. This also makes it easier to separate changes and keep an easy history of the dev.

You can create a new branch using the following command:

Good branch names provide clear descriptions of what you’re working on and can help both yourself as well as others to more easily hop back in time through the project history. Always use lowercase letters, hyphens, and prefixes with the purpose (e.g.: feature/your-feature-branch), as a best case.

What are the best practices for naming branches?

Why are branching and merging considered essential practices in Git, especially in collaborative software development?

branching and merging in git helping us to solve conflicts when more than one user is working on a repo, also there are times the developer have their own version of the code even they do not want it. Branches allow developers to have separate spaces for their changes which keeps the main codebase stable as new features are built. Merging then brings these changes together — all contributions are now within the one project. This is especially important for collaborative environments as this allows all of these complex projects to be managed without stepping on each others toes and causing conflicts or touching areas that should not have had changes done. That’s why a team can work on some new feature in separate branch, while others correct bugs with the main branch. And when that feature is done and tested, it merges with the main branch to keep all work in a single streamline without affecting overall project stability.

One of the most powerful features in git is branching, allowing developers to run on different functionalities on a project simultaneously. This really comes in handy when working as part of a team – well so that you don’t step over each other’s toes 🙂 Basically branching is a way that allows you to create isolated changes without affecting the main line of development.

The basic command to create a new branch in Git is straightforward:

It is important to say that this creates a new branch but does not move into the created one. For developers to do actual work on the newly created branch, you need another command for&nbsp;<code>git checkout</code>.

One scenario when working with branches is creating a new branch at a specific commit. The next instruction does it;

Remember, the&nbsp;<code>git reflog</code>&nbsp;command allows you to see the history of refs such as branch checkouts, commits being made, and so on. This history helps you find the commit that should be used as a base of the new branch.

To create a new branch based on a tag, developers can use the following command:

This will create a new branch called ‘new-branch-name’, on the tag referenced by the name of the tag, and check out that branch. This is important to make sure that a branch will be created from the right tag.

A branch is a line of development. Learn how to create a new branch in Git in just 50 seconds. Follow these steps to understand the basics.

Git Create Branch: Simple Steps in 50 Seconds

Create Branch

One of the key things in using Git is to manage your branches well, which means you will need to use the Git delete branch command for those that are no longer needed. As things progress, and feature after feature gets developed and merged, a mess is bound to happen.

Cleaning up unused branches helps to keep your repository clean and pushes you towards an organized workflow, where it will be easier for you or the rest of your team members to navigate through the project. This tutorial will teach you how to delete both your local and remote Git branches in a safe and efficient manner.

So let’s get started with why we should delete a branch from our repository.

A Git branch is usually deleted once its work has been completed, when a feature has been merged into production or an experiment can no longer be continued.

Additionally, old branches can clutter and complicate your repository structure; this is especially true for large projects with many contributors.

Having a clean Git repository helps keep things tidy and easier to browse through and manage.

A cleaned-up repository is a lot easier to manage than one in which you must sift through dozens and dozens of open PRs; those are ones that might still be ongoing until they get merged.

Long-term, better collaboration is achieved by having a nice and clean branch structure for everyone to be on the same page.

It is also easier to track the progress of an effective project management system with a well-maintained repository containing only essential branches. By removing stale branches, you will keep your Git workflow light and tidy.

In the following section, you will understand how to delete it via git command, let’s move forward.

Removing a local Git branch is an easy and basic operation we can do to maintain our repository clean. We will go over the steps as illustrated in this manual and address some of the most frequently encountered problems. Here are steps:

Always list all branches to verify that you are targeting the correct branch. Use the following command:

It will show you all the branches in your local repository, with an asterisk showing the current branch.

You can’t remove the branch you are currently in. Before deleting a branch, you need to check out a different branch. For example, switch to the main branch:

After double-checking that you are on a different branch from the target, use this command to remove it:

Replace&nbsp;<code>branch-name</code>&nbsp;with a new name from your target branch.

Deletion of the non-merged branch with a force can be done by:

This action will delete the branch no matter what.

The following image depicts a remote repository containing three branches. I have already cloned all the branches except the one under the name “development.”.

Thus, I will delete the “new-file” branch from the local repository. But before doing that, I will show you a figure to help you understand all the branches along with their commit references.

Let’s see how to delete the “<mark>new-file</mark>” branch from the local repository.

Actually, the git system will not allow you to delete the current branch. So, you have to ensure that you are on another branch (cursor). Otherwise, it will display the following error.

Thus, you must move the cursor to another branch using the select command:&nbsp;<code>git switch [branch-name]</code>. Then, you can directly delete it using the command below.

Or, you can delete it permanently by using the&nbsp;<code>-D</code>&nbsp;flag instead of&nbsp;<code>-d</code>. Thus, it would be written as the command below.

However, if you examine the above figure, you will notice two committed refs there, which are e7f1da9 and 1e2439a. The question then arises: does the deletion have any effect on these? Let’s explore the answer in the following section.

Actually, that doesn’t affect the commits and structure; it only removes the label name of the branch. However, if those commits have not already been merged into another branch, then deleting the branch will remove all of its commits and references to free up space.

I deleted the ‘new-file’ branch, but the two refs are still there, allowing me to recreate the branch with the same name.

Note: The branch deletion only affects the local repository. But what about the remote repository? Let’s move on to the next part to see how to apply this change remotely.

Deleting a branch in a remote repository is closely related to local branch deletion. Sometimes, you need to remove a branch that is not needed after merging or when you want to clean up the remote repository. Here’s how to delete a remote branch and how&nbsp;<code>git push</code>&nbsp;fits into the final command.

Replace [<code>BRANCH-NAME]</code>&nbsp;with the name of your realm, master, or staging branch; and&nbsp;<code>origin</code>&nbsp;with the remote, as usually provided by default.

We can use the&nbsp;<code>git push origin :[BRANCH-NAME]</code>&nbsp;command to delete the branch, but we also have to remove it from our local end after deleting the remote reference branch.

The list should no longer include the deleted branch.

You can end up accumulating an untidy repository because of all those Git branches used during the course of your project. Keeping a sane workflow by deleting unnecessary branches is also paramount. In this guide, we describe how by removing local and remote Git branches, you can still manage to keep the names of your repository folders.

Here is how to delete a branch in a remote repo using&nbsp;<code>git push</code>&nbsp;alias:&nbsp;<code>git push origin --delete</code>, similarly represented as syncing. Verify the deletion with&nbsp;<code>git branch -r</code>.

Now you know ways to manage your project repository better and cascade the cleanliness into a collaboration-friendly environment where it can blossom without breathing in constant dust!

Delete Git branches locally and remotely with examples. Follow this guide to keep your Git repository clean and organized.

Git Delete Branch Locally & Remotely with Examples

Delete Branch

When you work with Git, many times you will be working in multiple branches on a repository. Knowing how to list all branches in Git is a basic skill you need — whether you are moving between features, monitoring your progress, or collaborating with others. In this tutorial, I will show you the different commands and options that are available for listing local and/or remote branches in your Git repository. At the end of this post, you should be able to quickly tell which branches are what and how that can easily enhance your workflow. Let’s dive in!

This command simply lists all the local branches in your Git repository. The branch currently in use is marked with an asterisk.

To list branches matching a specific pattern, use&nbsp;<code>--list</code>&nbsp;followed by the first slug name of the branch.

There are other commands used to list branches on the remote server, and additional flags can perform various other tasks. Let’s see how to list all branches locally and remotely in Git.

Listing All Branches Locally and Remotely in Git

By running the following command, you will see all branches locally, and remotely.

This command combines information from local branches (<code>git branch</code>) and remote branches (<code>git branch -r</code>), so you get a comprehensive list of all the Git repository in your Gits. Above output detail about, the branch you’re currently checkout with an asterisk.

One more thing, you can display more data about each branch using the&nbsp;<code>-vva</code>&nbsp;flag.

This command is used to display more detailed information about branches, including both local and remote branches, along with additional details such as the last commit on each branch.

Let’s focus a bit more on how to list the branches in the remote repository.

Learn how to list all Git branches (local & remote) with easy commands. Get detailed steps for managing your branches fast. Click to learn more!

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