When you check for the definition of Git online, the best you can get is something like ‘Git is a distributed version control system (DVCS) for tracking changes into files.’ But what does that mean?
In this blog, we are going to cover everything you need to know about the Git tool
Table of Contents
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What is Git?
When you check for the definition of Git online, the best you can go something along these lines: Git is a distributed version control system (DVCS) for tracking changes to files. But what does that mean? Git, unlike the other version control systems, is open source and not file-based, storing information like snapshots. The main purpose of a Version Control System is that it helps developers to revert to previous versions in case they hit a roadblock in the latest version without directly making any changes in the latest version. Now, what differentiates Git from other Version Control Systems is how Git perceives data. Hence Git takes a photo of how your files look at a certain point in time and instead of taking new photos for new changes only saves changes made to the photo over time.
Before reading in detail about Git and its features, let’s briefly understand what Version Control System (VCS) is?
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What is Version Control System (VCS)?
A Version Control Systems (VCSs) is a collection of various software tools that allow professionals to record the changes that have been made to the respective documents and files by tracking the modifications made to the program code. One of the main reasons why VCS is necessary is that, often, software programs are developed by a group of developers who may be working from various parts of the globe. Since all of them make some contributions to the software code and keep making changes, it is important that the changes be communicated to other team members. This improves the management and efficiency while developing the software.
Version control systems can largely be classified into the following three types:
- Local version control systems: Compared to the other types of version control systems, the local VCS is the simplest one that has a database consisting of the record of all the changes done to files while using revision control. Revision control systems (RCS) are among the most popular VCS tools that store patch sets on the disk. By adding the patches, we can quickly recreate a file’s exact appearance at any moment. Example: RCS (Revision Control System)
- Centralized version control systems: They comprise a single repository, and all users get their own copies. Your changes will be reflected in the repository, i.e., when you commit, the team members can see the changes by updating. In simple terms, the other members can only see the changes you make if you commit, and they update. This VCS makes it easy for developers and programmers to collaborate and gain insights into what the rest of the team members are doing on a given project. Moreover, it enables administrators to know who can do which parts of the project. Example: Subversion (SVN) or Perforce
- Distributed version control systems: These systems consist of several repositories, and all the users have their own repositories. The distributed version control systems require professionals to complete four steps to make their changes visible to other members of the team, unlike the centralized version control systems that required only two. Here, the other members will not be able to access your changes just by you committing your changes. When you commit, the changes will be reflected in your local repository only. Further, you must push the changes so that they can be visible in the central repository. Now, the other members cannot view the changes just by updating. First, they need to pull those changes into their respective repositories and then update. Among all the various options available for Distributed Version Control Systems, Git is the most popular. Example: Git or Mercurial
In this ‘What is Git?’ blog, let us discuss its features.
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Features of Git
- Works on a distributed system: In a Distributed Version Control System we have multiple collaborators from any corner of the world accessing the same Central Repository.Users are allowed to work on the same bit of code simultaneously without getting interfered by others. Git reduces the possibility of data loss from system failure or an unreliable Internet connection by keeping a snapshot each time a user pulls a file. Hence users can work on the same section of code without any interference
- Compatible with all operating systems: Git has compatibility with almost all Operating Systems. Git can even access repositories created by other Version Control Systems.
- Allows for non-linear development: With Git we can work in a non-linear method, since users are able to access the repository, make changes and update it whenever they want to. This is possible due to branching and merging features supported by Git. Git has specific tools that allow us to navigate through them, we can view the projects in a tree structure.
- Branches like a tree: When we are working on the source code, we have the option to create as many new branches as we want. These branches are parallel to the original code files leaving it unaffected.
- Light as a cotton ball: Some might think that having so many copies of the same central repository on their local machine might lead to challenges causing the system to crash but Git has got everything under control. Git makes sure that the source code is compressed and hence takes us as little space as possible and whenever data is to be retrieved, reverse technique will be used allowing us to save a lot of memory.
- Fast as a flash: Git, unlike other Version Control Systems is written in C which is very close to Machine Language allowing information to be processed very fast.
- Reliable: As long as the developers or collaborators have their copies of the central repository available in their local machine there will not be an issue of data loss.
You have learned in-depth about Git and its feature in this ‘What is Git?’ blog so far. Now, let’s gain insights into its architecture.
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Git Architecture
Most of the version control systems will work based on two-tier architecture. However, what makes Git unique is that Git has an extra layer making it a three tier architecture. But, why are there three layers of Git? Let’s find out.
The three layers are:
- Working directory: The working directory is created when we initialize the git repository allowing us to edit the source code.
- Staging area: Once we have made the appropriate edits in the files we will run the git add command specifying the files that we need to stage. This is essentially a preview for the upcoming step. If further changes are made in the first layer, i.e. the Working Directory then the resulting snapshots will be different. We can however sync these changes using the git add command.
- Local repository: Once we are done with all the changes we can finalize the changes for the files that have been staged using the git commit command.
After reading about the architecture and getting a better knowledge of Git, this ‘What is Git?’ blog will help you understand how you can make use of Git. By doing this, the most recent snapshots in each of the three stages are duplicated and brought into sync.
How to use Git?
Much of Git’s popularity is attributed to its user-friendly nature. You can check out these simple concepts to perform certain basic operations and get acquainted with Git basics.
Git works by keeping track of changes to your files so you can see what has been modified, go back to earlier versions, and work with others on the same project.
- You create a local repository at your project location by running the git init command.
- The files you add or the changes you make in the local repository using the git add command are added to the staging area.
- If you want to save the changes you made, you need to run the git-commit command which will save a snapshot of your changes with a commit message.
- All these tasks are tracked on the Master branch by default. You can create other branches for working on different features separately. Later you can merge these different branches into the master branch.
- You can push these changes to GitHub to share them with other people.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the basic and commonly used commands in Git.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the basic and commonly used commands in Git.
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Git Commands
Based on what you work with, be it remote or local repositories, the Git commands change. Let’s take a look at the various commands in Git.
Git Commands When Working with Local Repositories
- git init: This Git command converts a directory into an empty repository. This is the initial step you need to take to build a repository. Once you run git init, you will be able to add and commit files and directories.
- git add: When we will run this command our files will be added to the Git staging area. The file must be added to the index of Git before being available to commit to any particular repository. You can use this command to add directories, files, etc.
- git commit: The commit command in Git will allow us to finalize the changes for the staged files in the local repository. Each commit has its own unique ID for reference.
- git status: The git status command will give information about the current status of files present in the local repository as to which files have and have not been staged.
- git config: There are numerous configurations and settings possible in Git, and this command allows you to assign these settings. User.name and user.email are the two significant settings that set the name and email address of a user.
- git branch: This command determines the branch of the local repository and allows you to add or delete a branch.
- git checkout: You can use this command to switch to another branch.
- git merge: The merge command allows you to integrate two or more branches together. It combines the changes made in the branches.
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Git Commands When Working with Remote Repositories
- git remote: This Git command allows you to connect a remote repository to a local repository.
- git clone: You can use the clone command to create a local copy of an already existing remote repository. This allows you to copy and download the required repository to the system. It is similar to the init command while working with remote repositories as it allows you to build a local directory, consisting of all the necessary files and history of the repository.
- git pull: The pull command is used to run the latest version of any repository. This pulls all the changes made from the remote to the local repository.
- git push: This command sends local commits to the respective remote repository. It needs two parameters, i.e., the remote repository and the specific branch where it needs to be pushed.
There are numerous other Git commands that are of more advanced level, such as git stash, git log, git rm, etc.
Now, you will learn about the use of Git in DevOps.
What does Git do in DevOps?
Git plays a vital role in DevOps. DevOps is responsible for the development and operation processes of software. It allows non-linear workflows in a distributed manner by providing data assurance to create quality software. This tool offers a space for developers to work. All the users are notified when any of the developers make changes in the file.
Git allows developers to collaborate and makes it easy for them to visualize the work, saving a lot of time and effort. Further, Git helps in code management that can be pushed to the shared repository, making the code ready to be integrated, tested, and deployed. It eases the communications between the development department and the operations department, making it the most suitable tool in DevOps.
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Like all things, Git has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. In this extensive blog on ‘What is Git?’, let’s discuss them.
Advantages of Git
There are numerous advantages of Git, some of which are listed further in this ‘What is Git?’ blog.
Git is much stronger and reliable than other VCSs. Professionals can easily commit changes, compare version branches, and merge them. Besides, it allows for the better optimization of code for improved performance. The algorithms that are used to develop Git take complete advantage of the stored knowledge of attributes that help in developing source code files, types of file access patterns that help in recalling code files whenever required, and so on.
Security
Git is mainly built to secure the source code and maintain its integrity. All the data in the file, the relationship between the directories and files, commits, tags, versions, etc. are guarded through cryptographic algorithms like SHA-1. This algorithm secures the code and changes history from accidental and malicious attacks. Git ensures that the files, data, and the change history of the source code are secure.
Flexibility
Git is designed to be flexible, which allows it to support various types of non-linear workflows. It is also one of the most efficient tools in terms of dealing with small-scale and large-scale protocols and projects. Besides, its unique design makes it possible to support branching and tagging various business operations, storing all the user activities as an important part of the change history. Git is one of the very few VCSs that have this feature.
Wide Acceptance
Most developers need the security, performance, flexibility, and functionality that Git offers to build their projects. It is the most widely accepted VCS comparatively, and it provides universally accepted performance standards and usability.
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Disadvantages of Git
Even though Git seems like the perfect solution for various problems related to the software development life cycle (SDLC), it has its shortcomings.
- Its steep learning curve itself is a disadvantage, which is due to the non-intuitive nature of its commands. You need a much deeper understanding of the internals of Git to avoid inconsistencies while executing.
- Binary files are not Git’s forte. Whenever files containing non-text content are updated or used frequently, Git gets dragged and slowed down.
- It does create a conducive environment for a large number of developers distributed over a large geographical area but, at the same time, creates a lot of conflict and confusion while merging codes. To solve this problem, developers can establish an open communication channel before merging their bits of changes with the project.
Installing Git
Installing Git in Windows, Linux, and Mac Operating System is very easy.
Visit https://git-scm.com/downloads and download the correct executable for your operating system.
Installation on Windows:
For Windows, you can refer to our installation guide.
Installing on Linux:
Based on your Linux distribution, you need to run the commands exactly in the same order as mentioned in the official documentation.
Installation on Mac:
Choose one of the options available on the official Mac Installation guide for installing Git on macOS.
What is Github?
GitHub is a cloud-based repository management platform. Using this platform anyone can collaborate on uploaded projects efficiently. YOu can download the Git tool in your local system, and use it to push your projects on Github repositories as public repositories and private repositories controlling different access levels to your projects.
You just need to create an account on https://github.com and start managing your projects.
Why is Git so Popular?
Git is so popular because it supports powerful version control features.
- Git has advanced features like GitHub Actions, Webhook, boards, graphs, etc. support automation.
- Git provides a centralized platform that gives developers and other team members a collaborative environment to manage code, track changes, resolve conflicts, and work on projects simultaneously without overwriting each other’s work.
- A large community of developers provides support for open-source projects and creates valuable learning opportunities for users.
- Git integrates seamlessly with various CI/CD tools like Jenkins, IDEs like VScode, and cloud services.
- Git has an intuitive web interface that makes it easy to navigate repositories, review changes, and contribute.
- The Git is an open-source and free tool.
- Git has advanced features like GitHub Actions, Webhook, boards, graphs, etc. support automation.
Conclusion
Git is being used by large companies to achieve their benchmark goals. As products are developed all around the world, it is increasingly becoming the platform of integration. The introduction toGithas contributed to the building of a large community by following the mantra of developing ecosystems for SDLC. With a long way ahead for more technological advancements, Git has definitely found its place at the top. Hopefully, this ‘What is Git?’ blog helped you understand the basics of Git and inspired you to start the coding journey with it.
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