Getting Started with Version Control Systems: A Beginner's Guide
Tags: github, git, vcs, opensource
Published: 2023-10-10 10:13:23

Version control systems (VCS) are essential tools for software development teams. They allow developers to keep track of changes made to code over time, collaborate with team members, and revert to previous versions of code if necessary. VCS tools have become increasingly popular in recent years due to the rise of agile development methodologies and the need for more efficient collaboration among team members.

In this blog series, we will cover from basic to advance topics of version control systems and how to get started with using them. We will explore the different types of VCS tools available, including centralized and distributed systems, and provide step-by-step instructions on how to use them. We will also discuss best practices for using VCS tools, such as creating branches, merging changes, and resolving conflicts.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this blog series will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to effectively use version control systems in your software development projects. So, let's get started!


# What is Version Control?

Version control is a system that allows developers to keep track of changes made to code over time. It is an essential tool for software development teams, as it enables them to collaborate more efficiently and effectively. With version control, developers can work on the same codebase simultaneously, without worrying about overwriting each other's changes.

At its core, version control is a way of managing changes to files. It allows developers to create a history of changes made to a file, including who made the changes, when they were made, and what changes were made. This history is stored in a repository, which acts as a central location for all the files and their associated changes.

Version control systems come in two main types: centralized and distributed. Centralized version control systems (CVCS) have a single central repository that stores all the files and their associated changes. Developers check out files from the repository to work on them, and then check them back in when they are done. Distributed version control systems (DVCS), on the other hand, allow developers to create their own local repositories, which they can then synchronize with a central repository. This allows for greater flexibility and enables developers to work offline or on their own branches without affecting the main codebase.


## Getting Started with Git

Git is a popular distributed version control system that is widely used in software development. If you're new to Git, getting started can seem daunting. Here are the key components of Git and what they do:

`Repository`: A Git repository is a collection of files and their associated history of changes. It is the central location where all the files and their changes are stored. A repository can be local (on your computer) or remote (on a server).

`Commit`: A commit is a snapshot of the changes made to the files in the repository at a particular point in time. When you make changes to a file, you can create a commit to save those changes to the repository. Each commit has a unique identifier that can be used to reference it later.

`Branch`: A branch is a separate line of development that diverges from the main codebase. It allows you to work on a feature or bug fix without affecting the main codebase. When you're done with the changes, you can merge the branch back into the main codebase.

`Merge`: Merging is the process of combining changes from one branch into another. When you merge a branch, Git will automatically try to merge the changes together. If there are conflicts, you'll need to resolve them manually.

`Pull`: Pulling is the process of downloading changes from a remote repository to your local repository. This is useful when you're working on a team and someone else has made changes to the codebase.

`Push`: Pushing is the process of uploading changes from your local repository to a remote repository. This is useful when you've made changes to the codebase that you want to share with your team.

`Clone`: Cloning is the process of creating a local copy of a remote repository. This is useful when you want to work on a project that someone else has already started.

`Fork`: Forking is the process of creating a copy of a repository under your own account. This is useful when you want to contribute to a project but don't have permission to make changes to the original repository.


## Creating Your First Github Repo and Pushing Code

Here are the steps to create your first GitHub repository and push your code:

1. **Create a GitHub account**: If you don't already have a GitHub account, go to github.com and sign up for a free account.

2. **Create a new repository**: Once you have signed in to your GitHub account, click on the "+" icon in the top right corner of the page and select "New repository" from the dropdown menu.

3. **Name your repository**: Give your repository a name and add a brief description if you want. You can also choose to make your repository public or private.

Initialize your repository with a README file: Select the option to "Initialize this repository with a README" file. This will create a README file in your repository that you can edit later.

4. **Clone your repository**: To work on your repository locally, you need to clone it to your local machine. To do this, copy the URL of your repository from the GitHub page and use the git clone command in your terminal. For example, if your repository URL is https://github.com/username/repo-name.git, you would run the command git clone https://github.com/username/repo-name.git.

5. **Add your code to the repository**: Once you have cloned your repository, add your code to the repository by creating new files or copying existing files into the repository folder.

6. **Commit your changes**: After adding your code to the repository, you need to commit your changes. Use the git add command to stage your changes, followed by the git commit command to commit your changes with a commit message. For example, you can run the commands `git add .` to stage all changes and `git commit -m "Initial commit"` to commit the changes with the message "Initial commit".

7. **Push your changes to GitHub**: Finally, push your changes to GitHub using the `git push` command. For example, you can run the command git push origin main to push your changes to the main branch of your repository on GitHub.

That's it! Your code is now pushed to your GitHub repository and can be accessed by anyone with access to the repository.


## Collaborating with Git

Collaborating with Git involves several parts, including creating a repository, cloning a repository, making changes, committing changes, pushing changes, and pulling changes. Here is a detailed explanation of each part:

1. `Creating a repository`: A repository is a central location where you can store and manage your code. To create a repository, you can use a Git hosting service like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Once you create a repository, you can add collaborators who can access and contribute to the code.

2. `Cloning a repository`: To work on a repository, you need to clone it to your local machine. Cloning creates a copy of the repository on your machine, which you can work on and make changes to. To clone a repository, you need to use the git clone command followed by the URL of the repository.

3. `Making changes`: Once you have cloned the repository, you can make changes to the code. You can add new files, modify existing files, or delete files as needed.

4. `Committing changes`: After making changes to the code, you need to commit the changes. Committing creates a snapshot of the changes you made, which you can later revert to if needed. To commit changes, you need to use the git commit command followed by a commit message that describes the changes you made.

5. `Pushing changes`: After committing changes, you need to push the changes to the remote repository. Pushing sends the changes you made to the remote repository, where other collaborators can access them. To push changes, you need to use the git push command followed by the name of the branch you want to push the changes to.

6. `Pulling changes`: If other collaborators have made changes to the code, you need to pull the changes to your local machine. Pulling downloads the changes made by other collaborators and merges them with your local code. To pull changes, you need to use the git pull command.

# Conclusion

Version control systems are essential tools for software development teams. Git is one of the most popular VCS tools used by developers today. By following the basic steps outlined in this blog post, you can get started with using Git to manage your code and collaborate with team members.