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Git and Version Control

Learn how to track changes to your code and collaborate with others using Git.

What is Version Control?​

Version control is a system that records changes to files over time. It allows you to:

  • Track every change you make
  • Revert to previous versions
  • Collaborate with other developers
  • Keep a history of your project

What is Git?​

Git is the most popular version control system. It's free, open-source, and used by millions of developers worldwide.

Installing Git​

Windows​

Download from git-scm.com

Mac​

brew install git

Linux​

sudo apt-get install git

Basic Git Commands​

Configure Git​

Set up your name and email:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Create a Repository​

git init

This creates a new Git repository in your current directory.

Check Status​

git status

See what files have changed.

Stage Changes​

git add HelloColy.java
# Or add all files:
git add .

Commit Changes​

git commit -m "Add hello world program"

Always write clear commit messages describing what you changed!

View History​

git log

Practice Exercise​

  1. Create a new directory for a project
  2. Initialise a Git repository
  3. Create a Java file with a simple program
  4. Stage and commit your changes
  5. Make a change to the file
  6. Commit the new changes
  7. View your commit history

Next Steps​

In the next section, we'll learn about GitHub and how to share your code with others.

tip

Make commits frequently! It's better to have many small commits than one large one.