Git for Beginners: Basics and Essential Commands

What is Git?

\= Git is a Version Control System (VCS). It helps you track your code changes and save versions of your project.
Git mostly works on your local system and you use it from terminal.

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Why Git is Used?

\= Git is used to:

• track code changes (who changed what and when)

• work in a team without messing code

• save project history safely

• go back to older version if something breaks

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Git Basics and Core Terminologies?

\= Git Basics

• Git: tool to manage version history

• Repository (Repo): a project folder tracked by Git

• Local Repository: repo on your laptop/pc

• Remote Repository: repo online (GitHub, GitLab)

Core Terms:

• Commit: saved snapshot of changes

• Branch: separate line of work

• Main/Master: main branch of project

• Clone: copy remote repo to local

• Pull: take latest code from remote to local

• Push: send local commits to remote

• Merge: combine two branches

• Checkout/Switch: move between branches

• Staging Area: area before commit (git add)

• HEAD: points to your current commit

• Conflict: when Git can’t auto merge changes

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Common Git Commands?

\= Repository Setup

• git init → start git in a folder

• git clone <url> → copy a remote repo

\= Daily Workflow

• git status → check file status

• git add <file> / git add . → stage changes

• git commit -m "message" → save changes

• git log → see commit history

\= Remote (GitHub) Commands

• git remote -v → view remote URLs

• git push → upload commits to GitHub

• git pull → download and merge updates

\= Branching

• git branch → list branches

• git branch <name> → create branch

• git checkout <branch> / git switch <branch> → change branch

• git merge <branch> → merge branch into current branch

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Basic Developer Workflow (simple)

1. Create project folder

2. git init

3. make changes

4. git add .

5. git commit -m "first commit"

6. connect remote (GitHub)

7. git push