Git and Github; the best thing to happen to developers since sliced bread.
I can’t shake the feeling of the need to offer a disclaimer like an appetiser before the main course. My disclaimer, should you choose to consider it would be “this is a new ground for me as I’m totally on the very first step in this software development journey”. Hopefully though, it’s the first of at least ‘ten thousands’ steps in this intriguing journey.
Now that that’s out of the way, like a tourist or a resident in a new country, the first chapter of learning programming came with introduction to Git and Github, as much as I can’t speak for everyone, I could wager a good amount that the reaction of most people on first being introduced to Git and Github would be “what really is the need for this?” and then move on from there to “how did developers of old even make it through without some kind of version control system or tools like Git and Github?” and then “I’m so grateful this exists” when you actually start exploring all the capabilities and flexibility of this tool.
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Git is a popular version control software which mainly uses the Github code hosting platform for exercising this version control as well as collaboration. Git is also used to track code changes as well as see who made what change in the case of collaboration.
Once delved into Git, it’s a bit like learning a new language, ooh don’t worry, it’s mainly written in English, English words are used in it’s frequent and most important terminologies too, but like most new fields, these terminologies might denote differently in meaning and action from what you are entirely used to. You “commit” your code when you want to upload the latest version of the project you’re working on, so fellas with commitment issues can rest easy, pun intended.
You “fetch” when you want to bring in the latest changes to a project from Github, “branching” gives you the ability to delegate or create changes on one side of the project like trimming the branch of a tree without actually making any cuts on the main stem.
All things considered, features are abound in Git far more than has been mentioned here, which is basically a way of saying you are in for a treat, take it from a non-expert in the coding and software development, it breeds a certain level and amount of confidence that tools like these are out there to make your journey a little less daunting.
