How to Use Git for Version Control

[Omoseye Alebiosu]

Git is a powerful version control system (VCS) that allows you to track changes in your code over time. Here's a breakdown of how to use Git for version control:
[b]1. Setting Up Git:[/b]

• [b]Install Git:[/b] If you haven't already, download and install Git from the official website https://git-scm.com/downloads. The installation process typically involves following a straightforward wizard.
  
• [b]Verify Installation:[/b] Open a terminal (command prompt on Windows) and type
  
  
  Code:

  git --version
  . If Git is installed correctly, you'll see the installed version number.
  

[b]2. Initializing a Git Repository:[/b]

• [b]Create a Project Directory:[/b] Create a directory for your project files. This could be your codebase, website files, or any collection of files you want to track with Git.
  
• [b]Open Terminal:[/b] Open your terminal and navigate to the project directory using the
  
  
  Code:

  cd
  command (e.g.,
  
  
  Code:

  cd myproject
  ).
  
• [b]Initialize Git:[/b] Run the command
  
  
  Code:

  git init
  in your terminal. This creates a hidden folder called
  
  
  Code:

  .git
  within your project directory. This folder stores all the Git version control information.
  

[b]3. Staging and Committing Changes:[/b]

• [b]Making Changes:[/b] Edit your project files as usual.
  
• [b]Staging Changes:[/b] Once you're ready to track changes, use the
  
  
  Code:

  git add
  command. For example,
  
  
  Code:

  git add index.html
  stages the specific file for version control. You can also use
  
  
  Code:

  git add .
  to stage all modified files in the current directory.
  
• [b]Committing Changes:[/b] After staging your changes, use the
  
  
  Code:

  git commit
  command to create a snapshot of the staged changes. You'll need to provide a commit message briefly describing the changes you made. A good commit message should be clear and concise, explaining what was modified.
  
• [b]Example:[/b]
  
  
  Code:

  git commit -m "Added a new home page"

[b]4. Tracking Changes with the Working Directory, Staging Area, and Repository:[/b]

• [b]Understanding the Workflow:[/b] Git works with three main areas:
  
  • [b]Working Directory:[/b] This is your project folder where you edit your files.
    
  • [b]Staging Area:[/b] This is a temporary holding area for changes you want to include in your next commit. You use
    
    
    Code:

    git add
    to stage changes.
    
  • [b]Repository:[/b] This is the central location where all the versions (commits) of your project are stored. The
    
    
    Code:

    .git
    folder in your project directory holds the repository.
    

[b]5. Viewing Version History:[/b]

• [b]Listing Commits:[/b] Use the
  
  
  Code:

  git log
  command to see a list of all your commits. This displays information like commit message, author, and date for each commit.
  
• [b]Viewing Specific Commit:[/b] Use
  
  
  Code:

  git show <commit_hash>
  to view details of a specific commit, including the commit message and the file changes introduced in that commit. The
  
  
  Code:

  <commit_hash>
  is a unique identifier for each commit.
  

[b]6. Undoing Changes:[/b]

• [b]Unstaging Changes:[/b] If you've staged a change but decide you don't want to commit it yet, use
  
  
  Code:

  git rm <filename>
  from the staging area (not the working directory).
  
• [b]Discarding Committed Changes:[/b] To undo a committed change, you can't directly edit past commits. However, you can create a new commit that reverts the changes.
  

[b]7. Branching and Merging (Optional):[/b]

• [b]Branching:[/b] Branches are lightweight ways to experiment with different versions of your project without affecting the main codebase. You can create a new branch using
  
  
  Code:

  git branch <branch_name>
  and switch between branches using
  
  
  Code:

  git checkout <branch_name>
  .
  
• [b]Merging:[/b] When you're happy with the changes in a branch, you can merge them back into the main branch using
  
  
  Code:

  git merge <branch_name>
  .
  

[b]8. Collaboration (Optional):[/b]

• [b]Remote Repositories:[/b] For collaborative projects, you can push your local Git repository to a remote hosting service like GitHub or GitLab. This allows multiple people to work on the project and share changes.
  

These are the fundamentals of using Git for version control. As you practice, you'll explore more advanced features and become comfortable managing your codebase effectively.