Introduction to Git and Version Control

Git is a distributed version control system that allows you to track changes in your codebase. It's an essential tool for any developer.

What is Version Control?

Version control systems help you:
- Track changes to your code
- Collaborate with others
- Revert to previous versions
- Manage different features simultaneously

Basic Git Commands

Initializing a Repository

git init

Staging Changes

git add .
git add filename.py

Committing Changes

git commit -m "Your commit message"

Checking Status

git status
git log

Branching

Branches allow you to work on different features simultaneously:

# Create a new branch
git branch feature-name

# Switch to a branch
git checkout feature-name

# Create and switch in one command
git checkout -b feature-name

# List all branches
git branch

Remote Repositories

Adding a Remote

git remote add origin https://github.com/user/repo.git

Pushing to Remote

git push origin main

Pulling from Remote

git pull origin main

Common Workflows

Feature Branch Workflow

1. Create a feature branch
2. Make changes and commit
3. Push branch to remote
4. Create a pull request
5. Merge after review

Git Flow

• main: Production-ready code
• develop: Integration branch
• feature/*: New features
• release/*: Release preparation
• hotfix/*: Emergency fixes

Best Practices

• Write clear, descriptive commit messages
• Commit often with logical units of work
• Use branches for features and fixes
• Never commit directly to main/master
• Review code before merging
• Keep commits focused and atomic

Useful Commands

# See what changed
git diff

# Undo changes
git checkout -- filename

# View commit history
git log --oneline --graph

# Stash changes
git stash
git stash pop

Mastering Git is essential for professional development. Practice regularly and you'll become proficient quickly.