Introduction to Git and Git Hosting Platforms

🔧 What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system used to track changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to collaborate efficiently.

• Tracks file changes over time
• Allows branching and merging
• Works locally without internet

🌐 What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud-based platform that hosts Git repositories. It helps developers share code, collaborate, and manage projects.

• Hosts remote Git repositories
• Offers pull requests, issues, and actions
• Popular among open-source communities

🛠️ Other Git Hosting Platforms

• GitLab: A Git-based DevOps platform that includes CI/CD, issue tracking, and project planning tools.
• Bitbucket: A Git repository management tool from Atlassian with Jira integration and support for private repositories.
• SourceForge: A web-based service that offers version control, bug tracking, and downloads for open-source projects.
• Azure Repos: Microsoft's Git hosting platform with enterprise-grade DevOps integration.

🔄 Common Git Workflow in a Project

The following sequence of Git commands is commonly followed throughout the lifecycle of a project:

• git clone <url>: Clone an existing repository to start working on a project
• git checkout -b feature-name: Create and switch to a new feature branch
• git add .: Stage changes after editing or adding files
• git commit -m "Describe the change": Commit staged changes with a meaningful message
• git pull origin main: Pull latest changes from the main branch before pushing
• git push origin feature-name: Push the branch to the remote repository
• Create a pull request on the hosting platform (e.g., GitHub)
• Get code reviewed and merged into the main branch
• git checkout main & git pull: Switch back to main and pull latest updates
• git branch -d feature-name: Delete the local branch once it’s merged

🖥️ Working with Git in VS Code

Visual Studio Code provides a user-friendly UI to work with Git. Here's how to use it:

• Open your project folder in VS Code
• Click the Source Control icon (Ctrl+Shift+G or 🧭 icon in sidebar)
• Stage changes using the + button next to modified files
• Add a commit message and click the ✔️ checkmark to commit
• Use the three-dot menu (...) to pull, push, or view branches
• Switch or create branches from the status bar (bottom left corner)
• View Git logs, diffs, and resolve merge conflicts with built-in UI
• Use the integrated terminal for advanced Git commands
• Install extensions like GitLens for enhanced Git capabilities

VS Code also integrates well with GitHub via the GitHub Pull Requests Extension.

✅ Why Use Git & Git Hosting Platforms?

• Track every change and revert if needed
• Collaborate with others easily
• Work on different features using branches
• Keep your code safe and accessible in the cloud
• Enable CI/CD pipelines for automated testing and deployment