Git is a widely used version control system (VCS) that allows developers to track changes in source code during software development. Linus Torvalds developed it in 2005 to oversee the Linux kernel’s development.Linus Torvalds developed it in 2005 to oversee the Linux kernel’s development.. Here’s a breakdown of the core concepts and features:

1. Key Concepts

• Repository (Repo): A Git repository is where the project’s files, history, and changes are stored.
• Commit: A snapshot of changes in the repository. Each commit records who made the change, what changed, and when.
• Branch: A pointer to a series of commits, allowing different versions of the project to exist simultaneously.
• Merge: Combining changes from different branches into one. Merging helps integrate features and updates.
• Remote: External repositories, typically hosted on services like GitHub or GitLab, for sharing code with others.
• Clone: Making a local copy of a remote repository to your computer.
• Pull & Push: git pull updates your local repository with changes from the remote, while git push updates the remote with your local changes.

2. Git Workflow

• Initializing a Repo: Start by initializing a repository with git init, creating a .git directory that stores configuration and history.
• Staging and Committing Changes:
  • Staging: Add files to the staging area using git add. This prepares files to be committed.
  • Committing: Save a snapshot with git commit -m "message".
• Branching and Merging:
  • Branching: Create a new branch with git branch branch_name or git checkout -b branch_name to develop features in isolation.
  • Merging: Use git merge branch_name to combine changes from one branch into another.

3. Git Commands

• Setup & Configuration:
  
  bash

  git config –global user.name “Your Name”
  git config –global user.email “you@example.com”
• Basic Workflow:
  
  bash

  git init # Initialize a new repo
  git clone <repo_url> # Clone an existing repo
  git status # Verify your working directory’s condition
  git add <file> # Stage a file
  git commit -m “message” # Commit changes
  git push # Push changes to remote
  git pull # Pull changes from remote
• Branching & Merging:
  
  bash

  git branch <branch_name> # Create a new branch
  git checkout <branch_name> # Switch to a branch
  git merge <branch_name> # Merge a branch into the current branch

   

4. Git Workflow Models

• Feature Branch Workflow: Commonly used in collaborative environments; each feature is developed in a separate branch and merged when ready.
• Gitflow Workflow: Defines branches for production, development, and features, suitable for larger projects.
• Forking Workflow: Used in open-source, where contributors fork the project, make changes in their own copies, then propose changes via pull requests.

5. Popular Git Hosting Services

• GitHub: Popular for open-source projects, social features, and collaboration tools.
• GitLab: Offers integrated CI/CD and supports both public and private repositories.
• Bitbucket: Known for integrating with Jira, it’s often used by companies already using Atlassian products.

6. Git Best Practices

• Commit Often: Commit changes frequently with meaningful messages.
• Use Branches for Features: Isolate new features or changes in their own branches.
• Review Code Before Merging: Pull requests and code reviews help improve code quality.