What is Git?
Git is a distributed version control system used for tracking changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to collaborate on projects by keeping a history of changes made to files over time. Developed by Linus Torvalds in 2005, Git has become one of the most widely used version control systems in the world due to its speed, flexibility, and efficiency.
What is Github?
GitHub is a web-based platform that hosts Git repositories and provides a range of collaborative features for software development projects. It serves as a hosting service for version control using Git and offers additional tools and functionalities to facilitate team collaboration, code review, project management, and more. GitHub is widely used by developers and teams around the world for open-source and private projects.
What is Version Control? How many types of version controls we have?
Version control is a system that records changes to files or a set of files over time. Its primary purpose is to keep track of modifications made to a codebase or any set of documents, allowing users to revisit specific versions of files, revert to previous states, compare changes, and collaborate with others effectively.
There are primarily three types of version control systems:
Local Version Control Systems:
- These systems were among the earliest types of version control. They involve a simple database that keeps all the changes to files under revision control on the local system. Examples include tools like RCS (Revision Control System) that store versions of files on a local disk.
Centralized Version Control Systems (CVCS):
- CVCSs utilize a central server to store all files and their versions. Users check out the files they need from this central repository to work on them locally. Changes are then committed back to the central server. Examples include CVS (Concurrent Versions System) and Subversion (SVN).
Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS):
- In DVCSs, each user has a complete copy of the repository, including the entire version history. This allows for more flexibility, as users can work offline, create branches, and commit changes locally before syncing with a central or remote repository. Git, Mercurial, and Bazaar are examples of distributed version control systems.
Your Git Journey Begins
Now that you have a foundational understanding of Git, it's time to embark on your Git journey. Here are some tasks to get you started:
Install Git on your computer: If you haven't already, download Git from the official website at Git Downloads.
Create a free GitHub account: If you don't have one, sign up at GitHub. It's your portal to the world of open-source collaboration.
Learn the basics of Git: Begin with the Git introduction video. This valuable resource will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of what Git is, how it works, and how to use it to track changes to files.
Now, you're well-equipped to navigate the exciting world of Git and version control. Get ready to collaborate, create, and code with confidence, knowing that every change is under control.
Exercises:
Create a new repository on GitHub and clone it to your local machine
Make some changes to a file in the repository and commit them to the repository using Git
Push the changes back to the repository on GitHub.
HAPPY LEARNING...