Git is a version control system that tracks changes to files over time. Originally created for Linux kernel development, it’s now the standard tool for managing code in web development projects. Git allows multiple developers to work on the same project without overwriting each other’s work.
Core Git Concepts
Repository (Repo) - A project folder tracked by Git. Commit - A snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. Branch - A parallel version of your code. Merge - Combining changes from different branches. Remote - A version of your repository hosted elsewhere (like GitHub).
Why Developers Use Git
Git provides a complete history of every change made to a project. You can revert to previous versions if something breaks. Multiple people can work on different features simultaneously without conflicts. It serves as a backup of your entire project history. Code review and collaboration become structured and manageable.
Basic Git Workflow
Create or clone a repository. Make changes to files. Stage changes you want to commit. Commit staged changes with a descriptive message. Push commits to a remote repository. Pull others’ changes to stay updated.
Branching Strategy
Branches let you experiment without affecting the main codebase. The main branch (often called “main” or “master”) contains stable, production-ready code. Feature branches contain work in progress. When features are complete and tested, they’re merged back into main.
Git Hosting Platforms
GitHub - The most popular platform, owned by Microsoft. GitLab - Offers built-in CI/CD features. Bitbucket - Integrates well with Atlassian tools. These platforms add collaboration features like pull requests, issue tracking, and project management tools to Git’s core functionality.
Git for Web Projects
Modern web development relies heavily on Git. It integrates with deployment systems for automated updates. Hosting platforms often deploy directly from Git repositories. Version control is essential for tracking changes to HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and configuration files. Even solo developers benefit from Git’s history and backup capabilities.