Version control and collaboration
So, where do we enter this rabbit whole? Let’s start with the most fundamental question: What is git?
Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency.
Distributed? Version control? Everything from small to very large? Okay, perhaps the answer to what is git, is not as helpful as you’d wish. We will try and unpack the concepts of version control, and its practical applications through a series of notes in this chapter.
It’s difficult to write anything new on Git and GitHub, without sounding like we are repeating once again, what was said many-many times by other people on the internet. Yet, we thought it is useful to put in writing our knowledge of these systems. We use them nearly every day. This digital tool enables us to collaborate, and make mistakes without irreversible consequences.
We only scratch the surface of what’s possible using git. Sometimes, we also forget how to use the less frequently used features of this tool. So the collection of notes are a reminder to ourselves. We will touch upon skills and features that matter to us, features that enabled us to build this site.
Our notes are based on our personal experiences, as well as the very thorough Git book. It’s an excellent resource, with as many details as many you can wish for, when learning about git. Now, let’s branch out to our notes, starting with: What is git, and why should you care?
Complete list of posts
The following list is a growing collection of posts in the "Version control and collaboration" chapter.
1. Add, commit, push - the git essentials
There are only 3 Git commands you need to know, before you can start enjoying the benefits of Git. Add, commit, and push.
Open the note on add, commit, push - the git essentials2. An introduction to GitHub
The first moment of confusion usually happens when people start to speak about Git, and GitHub. So let’s separate these two concepts right at the start.
Open the note on an introduction to github3. What is git, and why should you care?
The first version of a document you are working on is almost certainly not going to be the final version. At times, the previous version looked better though. Git, a distributed version control system helps you keep track of multiple versions of the same document. It helps to discard unwanted changes, revert to older versions, or merge changes made by two or more people.
Open the note on what is git, and why should you care?This is an open source website. Please, help improve the content on this page.