Git Basics Handbook
I. Introduction to Version Control
A. Definition and Significance of Version Control Systems
● Version control systems (VCS) track changes to files over time, allowing
multiple contributors to work on a project simultaneously while
preserving the history of changes.
B. Benefits of Utilizing Version Control for Software Development
● Collaboration: Facilitates teamwork by providing a centralized platform
for managing code.
● Versioning: Maintains a history of changes, enabling easy rollback to
previous states.
● Traceability: Tracks who made which changes, aiding in debugging and
accountability.
II. Core Concepts of Git
A. Repositories: Local and Remote
● Local Repository: A copy of the project on your local machine,
containing the entire version history.
● Remote Repository: A shared repository stored on a server, allowing
collaboration among multiple developers.
B. Working Directory: Workspace for Project Files
● The directory on your local machine where you modify files for your
project.
C. Staging Area (Index): Selecting Changes for Commits
● An intermediate area where changes are prepared before being committed
to the repository.
D. Commits: Capturing Project States with Descriptive Messages
● A snapshot of the project at a specific point in time, accompanied by a
descriptive commit message.
E. Branches: Divergent Development Paths within a Repository
● Independent lines of development that allow for parallel work on
different features or bug fixes.
III. Essential Git Commands
A. Initialization: Creating a New Git Repository
● git init: Initializes a new Git repository in the current directory.
B. Tracking Changes: Identifying Modified Files
● git status: Displays the status of modified files in the working directory.
C. Staging and Committing: Preparing and Recording Changes
● git add <file>: Adds file changes to the staging area.
● git commit -m "message": Records staged changes with a descriptive
message.
D. Branching: Creating and Switching Between Development Lines
● git branch <branch_name>: Creates a new branch.
● git checkout <branch_name>: Switches to the specified branch.
E. Merging: Integrating Changes from Different Branches
● git merge <branch_name>: Combines changes from the specified branch
into the current branch.
IV. Mastering Git Workflows
A. Feature Branch Workflow: Streamlined Development and Integration
● Create a new branch for each feature or bug fix.
● Regularly merge feature branches into the main development branch
(e.g., master or main).
B. Gitflow Workflow: Structured Approach for Large-Scale Projects
● Utilizes different types of branches (e.g., feature, develop, release, hotfix)
for managing development stages.
● Offers a more structured approach suitable for complex projects with
multiple contributors.
V. Advanced Git Techniques
A. Resolving Merge Conflicts: Handling Conflicting Changes
● Identify conflicting changes during a merge operation and resolve them
manually.
B. Stashing Changes: Temporarily Shelving Uncommitted Work
● git stash: Temporarily stores changes that are not ready to be committed,
allowing you to switch branches or apply fixes.
C. Using Tags: Annotating Specific Project Versions
● git tag <tag_name>: Creates a tag to mark a specific commit (e.g., for
releases or milestones).
