What Is Git?

Git, a version control system for software development, ensures developers can revert back to specific past versions of their work to see records of work completed and allows for streamlined collaboration by permitting changes made by multiple people to be merged into one location.

Related Reading From Built In Experts5 Ways to Learn Git and Version Control

What Is Git in DevOps?

Git was created in 2005 by Linus Torvald as a side project while developing Linux and has since become essential for DevOps due to its management and revision capabilities necessary for CI/CD pipelines.

Git software is run locally or via online hosts like GitHub or Bitbucket, as well as in cloud environments for enterprise DevOps teams. The location where all files are stored is what is known as a Git repository, which acts as a centrally located place where engineers can upload new changes or download changes others have made, essential for DevOps collaboration. 

When working on a file, changes are not recorded in Git until making a commit, which is created once an add command is attached to files in a staging environment. Git also allows developers to branch out from the original code base, adding flexibility to the workflow. This allows developers to work on feature branches independently while keeping the main branch stable. You can later merge these branches with the master branch, facilitating continuous integration (CI).

How Does Git Work?

To begin using Git in a project you first have to initialize it with the git init command in the root directory. This creates a .git folder that stores all the information needed to run and manage version histories. 

Once initialized, Git begins tracking any changes made to the code and files in the directory. To keep track of changes Git uses a three-stage process that classifies files into the working directory, staging area and repository. Git logs and record changes; however, it does not automatically save your work. For that, you need to explicitly add changes to the staging area with the git add command. In the staging area, you can review your changes before saving them with the git commit command.

By default, a commit automatically saves to the master branch of your project; however, this is strongly discouraged by developers. Working directly on the master branch bypasses internal code review processes and increases the risk of breaking the code or introducing conflicts with other parts of the project. Instead, developers should create a branch for every new feature they work on. A branch copies the code from the master workspace and creates a separate environment to make changes. This allows you to make changes in isolation but makes it easier for others to review and debug your work. After the code has been reviewed and approved, it can be merged into the master branch, becoming a live feature or update. 

Git’s structure makes it easy for dev teams to manage multiple versions of a project and is an essential tool for all developers to learn. Understanding the basic commands helps organize and document code and allows you to revert changes if needed. However, more advanced features can help with debugging and when collaborating on complex projects involving multiple repositories.

What Are the Basic Git Commands?

There are several basic commands that unlock functionality in Git, including git add, git branch, git checkout, git clean and more. These are some of the most used:

git add

Git add moves changes from the working directory into the staging area.

echo "print('Hello, Git!')" > script.py
git add script.py

# Adds script.py to the staging area

git branch

Git branch is a  general-purpose branch administration tool for creating isolated development environments within a repository.

git branch new-feature

# Creates a new branch called 'new-feature'

git checkout

Git checkout allows the user to navigate existing branches, view old commits and old file revisions.

git checkout new-feature

# Switches to the 'new-feature' branch

git clean

Git clean removes untracked files from a working directory.

touch temp.txt
git clean -f

# Removes the untracked file temp.txt

git clone

Git clone clones the existing repository.

git clone https://github.com/example/repo.git

# Clones the remote repository into a local folder named 'repo'

git commit

Git commit commits the current version of the project into the project history.

git commit -m "Add greeting script"

# Commits the staged files with a descriptive message

git config

Git config configures options for a Git installation.

git config --global user.name "Jane Doe"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

# Sets the global Git username and email

git fetch

Git fetch downloads a branch and its associated commits and files from another repository without integrating anything into the local repository.

git fetch origin

# Fetches changes from the remote 'origin'

git init

Git init nitializes a new Git repository.

mkdir my-project
cd my-project
git init

# Starts a new Git repository in the folder

git log

Git log provides several formatting options for exploring previous revisions of a project.

git log --oneline --graph

# Shows a concise, graphical history of commits

Are Git and GitHub the Same?

GitHub is a cloud-based platform that uses Git for version controls and adds features for hosting repositories and team collaboration. 

GitHub repositories help facilitate streamlined collaboration and continuous integration through its superior file storage and collaboration capabilities. Like other online repositories, such as Bitbucket, GitHub presents several advantages over storing files locally. 

Storing a copy of a project on an online repository allows developerss to upload and download changes from others through a central location, which is a key component of Git operations. Additionally, online repositories allow developers to work on separate branches of a project more efficiently, even allowing them to quickly switch between multiple branches in a project when the need arises.

One of the most useful advantages of an online repository, however, is the ability to view pull requests, or discussions about changes made to a file before they are merged into a codebase. This provides teams with full visibility into project status and potential conflicts at all times, which helps reduce misunderstandings and eliminate mistakes before they are merged into the master branch.

Frequently Asked Questions