Git for Beginners: How to Push & Pull Code, Track Changes, and Understand Version Control

Source: Dev.to

Git Basics for Beginners

Git is a version‑control tool that helps developers track changes in their code and collaborate safely. Instead of creating multiple versions of the same file, Git records what changed, when it changed, and who made the change. This makes it easy to work in teams and recover from mistakes.

Git works in a project folder called a repository. You work locally on your computer, then sync your changes to a remote repository such as GitHub.

Working with Repositories

Starting a New Project

git init                # create a new empty repository
git remote add origin   # (optional) link to a remote

Cloning an Existing Project

git clone https://github.com/username/project.git

Checking Repository Status

git status              # shows staged, unstaged, and untracked files

Staging Changes

Stage a Specific File

git add path/to/file

Stage All Changes

git add .

Committing Changes

Save a Checkpoint

git commit -m "Your descriptive commit message"

Pushing Changes to Remote

First‑time Push (set upstream)

git push -u origin main

Regular Push

git push

Pulling Changes from Remote

Get the Latest Updates

git pull               # fetches and merges remote changes

Tip: Always pull before starting work to avoid conflicts.

Viewing History

Commit Log

git log                # shows commit history

See What Changed in Files

git diff               # shows unstaged changes
git diff HEAD~1 HEAD   # shows changes introduced by the last commit

Common Pitfalls

• Forgetting to pull before working, leading to merge conflicts.
• Writing unclear commit messages.
• Committing broken code.
• Being afraid to make mistakes (Git is designed to recover safely).

Core Commands to Remember

• git status – view current repository state.
• git add – stage changes.
• git commit – record a snapshot.
• git push – send commits to the remote.
• git pull – fetch and integrate remote changes.

Everything else builds on these fundamentals. Happy coding!