AN INTRODUCTION TO BASIC GIT WORKFLOW

Source: Dev.to

What is Git?

Git is an open‑source, distributed version control system.

• Open‑source – anyone can freely use, modify, share, and redistribute Git.
• Distributed – Git can be accessed from both a central server and a user’s local machine.

For more information on distributed version control systems, click here.

In practice, Git lets developers track changes in their source code, coordinate work on shared projects, and maintain a detailed history of every modification over time. By the end of this article you should understand the basic Git commands and be able to apply a simple Git workflow.

Basic Git Workflow

Understanding Git as a workflow rather than a collection of isolated commands makes it easier for newcomers. Mastering the sequence gives you a solid foundation for real‑world projects.

1. Initialize a repository

git init

Initializes a new Git repository.

2. Clone a remote project

git clone [URL]

Creates a local copy of a remote repository.

3. Check the status

git status

Displays the state of the working directory and staging area.

4. Stage files for commit

git add [file]

Stages a file (or files) for the next commit.

5. Commit changes

git commit -m "message"

Saves the staged changes with a descriptive message.

6. Push to a remote server

git push

Sends local commits to a remote repository.

7. Pull the latest changes

git pull

Fetches and integrates changes from the remote repository.

8. Work with branches

git branch

Lists, creates, or deletes branches.

9. Merge a branch

git merge [branch-name]

Combines the specified branch into the current branch.

10. View commit history

git log --online --graph

Shows who changed what and when, in a graphical format.

Fun Fact: Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 to manage the development of the Linux kernel.

Git is a versatile and powerful tool that increases the efficiency of software development projects and simplifies remote collaborations. We’ve covered the fundamentals of how Git works and the most common commands you need to know before using it.