Beginner's Guide to Git and GitHub: Version Control Made Simple

Source: Dev.to

Introduction

Git is a distributed version‑control system that tracks every change you make to your files. It lets you:

• Go back to a previous version if something breaks.
• See what changes were made and by whom.
• Work safely on multiple projects or branches at the same time.

What is Git

Git records a complete history of your project, allowing you to revert to earlier states, compare versions, and collaborate without overwriting each other’s work.

What is GitHub

GitHub is a cloud‑based platform for hosting Git repositories. It enables you to:

• Share your code with others.
• Collaborate on projects through pull requests, issues, and reviews.
• Back up your work online.

Think of GitHub as a cloud version of your local Git projects.

What is Version Control

Version control tracks changes in your files over time. Its benefits include:

• Preventing loss of work.
• Providing a clear record of who made changes and when.
• Allowing multiple contributors to work on the same project safely.

Git Workflow for Beginners

Check Git Version

Make sure Git is installed and see which version you have:

git --version

The --version flag displays the installed Git version.

Check the Status of Your Project

See which files have changed, are untracked, or are staged for commit:

git status

Add Files to Be Tracked

Stage all files in the current directory:

git add .

Staging prepares files to be saved in your project history.

Commit Your Changes

Create a snapshot of the staged changes with a descriptive message:

git commit -m "Describe your change here"

The -m flag supplies the commit message.

Push Changes to GitHub

Upload your local commits to a remote repository on GitHub:

git push

Pull Changes from GitHub

Download the latest changes from the remote repository to keep your local copy up to date:

git pull

See the History of Your Project

View a log of all previous commits and their messages:

git log

Beginner‑Friendly Daily Workflow

git --version      # Check Git version
git status         # See changes
git add .          # Stage files for commit
git commit -m "Describe what you changed"   # Save snapshot locally
git push           # Upload changes to GitHub
git pull           # Download latest changes from GitHub
git log            # Review history

Each command is a core part of version control: tracking files, saving snapshots, sharing updates, and reviewing project history.