Git Basics

Understanding Git basics is essential for every developer, whether you work alone or in a team.

This section explains Git concepts in a clear and practical way for beginners.

Creating a Git Repository

A Git repository is a place where Git tracks your project files and changes.

🔸 A repository can be created for a new or existing project
🔸 Git starts tracking files once a repository is initialized
🔸 Each repository contains complete change history

You can create a Git repository locally on your system before sharing it with others.

Git Workflow Explained

Git follows a simple workflow that helps manage changes safely.

🔸 Working Directory – where you modify files
🔸 Staging Area – where you prepare changes
🔸 Repository – where changes are permanently stored

This workflow allows you to review and organize changes before saving them.

git init and git clone

These commands are used to start working with Git.

🔸 git init creates a new Git repository in an existing project
🔸 git clone copies an existing remote repository to your system

Use git init when starting a new project and git clone when working on an existing one.

git status, git add, git commit

These commands are used daily while working with Git.

🔸 git status shows the current state of files
🔸 git add moves changes to the staging area
🔸 git commit saves changes with a message

Together, these commands help you track and save your work properly.

Understanding Git Snapshots

Unlike traditional version control systems, Git stores data as snapshots.

🔸 Each commit represents a snapshot of the project
🔸 Git saves the state of files, not just differences
🔸 This makes Git fast and reliable

Snapshots allow Git to easily move between different versions of the project.

Viewing Commit History

Git keeps a complete history of all changes.

🔸 View commits in chronological order
🔸 Check who made changes and when
🔸 Understand how the project evolved over time

Commit history helps with debugging, collaboration, and project tracking.

Why Git Basics Are Important

Understanding Git basics helps you:

🔸 Work confidently in team environments
🔸 Track and manage code changes
🔸 Recover previous versions easily
🔸 Prepare for real-world development workflows