Learn Git for Beginners

Learn how version control uses snapshots of files called commits to track changes in a repository, with each commit capturing similarities and differences across files.

Explore why developers use version control to enable safe collaboration, track changes, review edits, undo mistakes, and manage project history across teams.

Git is a local, open source version control system installed on your computer, while GitHub hosts repositories on the web with public and private options.

Learn how each git commit carries a unique hash, acting as a reference like a social security number that lets you quickly locate and review past changes.

Explore the log as a chronological list of commits that documents when changes occurred. See how the latest and earliest commits are displayed to reveal the repository's history.

Use blame to determine who made changes to a file, and gain insight into who to talk to about a specific change. See who is responsible for each line.

Learn to set up Git and GitHub quickly, create a repository, clone it to your desktop, commit changes, and sync or push to master using GUI or command line.

Learn how to clone a public repository to your local machine, download the files, and prepare them for editing using a straightforward, step-by-step cloning process.

Learn how to make your first Git commit by staging changes, reviewing the snapshot, and pushing a descriptive, verb-led commit message to the remote repository.

Learn to pull down the latest changes from others, keep your local machine up to date, and verify your code reflects the new readme updates.

Learn how to create and use a branch to fix homepage copy, review changes with the development team, and merge into master for deployment to production after tests.

Identify the four code states—working directory, staging area, local repository, and remote repository—and how changes move through them via commits and syncing.

Collaborate with editors and developers on a pull request, review changes to the copy, leave comments, refine the spec, and merge into the master branch to publish.

Learn how two coworkers editing the same file can affect local changes and syncing to master, and how conflicts arise when edits collide.

Learn how a merge conflict occurs when two collaborators modify the same line, and resolve it by selecting the desired lines, using the opening and closing brackets that separate changes.

Learn how to delete a repository by navigating to the repository, opening settings on the right, selecting delete this repository, and typing the repository name to confirm.

Learn how forking creates a duplicate of an open source repository to collaborate safely, clone and work on changes, and request merges back to the original project.

Share persistent code references by linking to a specific commit rather than a changing file. Hit y to capture the commit in the link and share it for stability.

Learn to run git and version control from the command line in the Mac terminal, where you’ll spend most of your time; color schemes may differ.

Explore the command line for navigation and file creation, using ls, cd, tab completion, dot dot, and touch to create and open files.

Initialize a git repository, check status, stage files, and make your first commit on the master branch, using git init, git status, git add, and git commit.

Paste the repository link to the folder’s remote and add it as origin. Push the commits to origin master to update the remote repository.

Learn how to pull the latest changes from GitHub, fetch updates, and merge them into your local files, while recognizing and resolving potential merge conflicts.

Learn to create and switch to a new branch from the command line, stage and commit changes, and push the branch to Github for collaboration.

Switch to the master branch, check the status, pull the latest changes, and confirm you’re no longer on the previous branch before proceeding.

Learn how to delete a local git branch after you push it to a remote repository and merge its changes into master.

Learners view recent commits using git log, with the latest commit at the top and the list scrolling downward; press the down arrow to continue and q to quit.

Learn how to go back to a specific commit in git by copying the commit hash and using git revert, with cautions when collaborating and updating master.

Learn how to view and track changes with git diff and git status, review multiple file updates before staging, and write meaningful, grouped commit messages.

Learn to resolve git merge conflicts: pull after edits, fix conflicts in the about us page, stage and commit the resolution, then push to the remote master.

Complete the course challenge by forking the repository, creating a branch, adding your name and a link to your site in readme, then commit, push, and submit a pull request.

Fork a repository, clone it to your desktop, create and push a branch, and open a pull request for automatic merging using the Mac app.

Learn to complete the course project using the command line, switch to the master branch, check status, and push changes, with separate Mac App and command line workflows.

Master Sublime Text 3 hacks, from installing package control to configuring themes. Install Get gutter to visualize changes and staging in the editor sidebar.

Learn quick in-editor search techniques to find buried marketing copy by using keyboard shortcuts to search across files, filter by file type, and jump directly to the matched lines.

Learn how marketers can collaborate with engineers by understanding roles, respecting their version-control expertise, researching before asking, avoiding demands, and earning trust over time.

Keep leveling up in Git by practicing regularly, embracing the command line, taking notes on challenges, learning new commands weekly, and applying version control skills to side projects and work.