Git Tutorial Using SourceTree?
Asked by Evan Cowden:

The SourceTree site makes a big deal that it's perfect for Git newbies. I've recommended it to several newbies, but the problem I keep running into is that Git newbies need to walk through a Git tutorial, and all Git tutorials I can find are written for the command line. As newbie-friendly as it is, we've found that SourceTree is only really useful for people with at least an intermediate understanding of Git.

I guess our question is: are there any Git tutorials like, say, [http://gitimmersion.com/](http://gitimmersion.com/,), that are written for SourceTree instead of the console?

If not: that would be a super-awesome killer addition to the Git community for those that want to get into Git but are console averse.  
Getting started with SourceTree, Git and git flow ? GSoft-SharePoint-Dynamite Wiki ? GitHub.url  
[](/tnckb94959/attachments/tnckb94959/sourcetree-questions/12004/1/Getting%20started%20with%20SourceTree,%20Git%20and%20git%20flow%20%C2%B7%20GSoft-SharePoint-Dynamite%20Wiki%20%C2%B7%20GitHub.url){#display_116ccde825f27a_0}  
Free Mercurial and Git client for Mac and WindowsMercurial and Git client for Mac and Windows - Atlassian.url  
[](/tnckb94959/attachments/tnckb94959/sourcetree-questions/12004/2/Free%20Mercurial%20and%20Git%20client%20for%20Mac%20and%20WindowsMercurial%20and%20Git%20client%20for%20Mac%20and%20Windows%20-%20Atlassian.url){#display_116ccde825f27a_2}


Answers:
author: KieranA
body: Hi Evan,

We do a Git tutorial site here: <http://www.atlassian.com/git>

You're right in that we probably need to link to this. It is a tool that can be used by beginners, some concepts need to be understood first, but they don't take long at all. Once you understand things such as committing, pushing and setting up a remote you're on your feet.

There is built-in help with SourceTree

![](http://i.imgur.com/8saLscv.png)

Hope that helps

comments: author: Costin Lucian
body: i've just went into your tutorial page, but i find it is rather a tutorial of git instead of sourcetree.Your tutorial lists a number of commands, but it's not clear to me where one would enter/run these commands.I thought you have an integrated system and that those would be explained - how to use the buttons , icons,menus of sourcetree GUI. Yes, i'm a windows user, having similar problems like the other guys who posted below.


author: Candace Sommer-Van Auken
body: That "built-in help with SourceTree" mentioned above? It is not accessible on the Mac (OS X) in version 2.0.5.5 of SourceTree. Choosing SourceTree Help from the Help menu brings up a blank page.


author: Karen DuBrucq
body: Is there documentation for SourceTree on windows? We have some users that are really struggling and it would be helpful if I could point them to a tutorial or help files.

comments: author: JoCo
body: We've added a "get started guide" to our online documentation: <https://confluence.atlassian.com/get-started-with-sourcetree/get-started-with-sourcetree-847359026.html>


author: Christopher Watson
body: Thats great, John. You might want to add that link to the KB at <https://confluence.atlassian.com/sourcetreekb>


author: Fred Riley
body: Better late than never.  

PS: My initial "reply was not accepted" due to "inappropriate language" (of which there was none) or "spam" (of which there was none) - D'OH!. It's taken 4 edits to get it into an 'acceptable' format - are you sure that your parser is strict enough? ;-\\


author: zierlmarco
body: I think it is really embarrassing, that Atlassian is apparently not able to include a windows documentation that already exists in the mac version for over 2 years. Like Sean Mann said, just copy and paste it in any format, what the f$?\&!

I will not use SourceTree anymore, and will tell anyone to avoid it because of this.


author: KieranA
body: Hi guys,

It's 6 months from this conversation, and there's still no help in the Windows version. What's up with that? Is it expected soon?

Given that you use some non-standard terminology from regular GIT functionality, it's a bit difficult to do complete GIT source management. Like another writer here, I'll be going back to my combination of GIT Bash and Git Extensions.

Thanks!

M

comments: author: KieranA
body: I've been hoping to find time to port all the docs to Confluence. There's no quick and easy way to have built in documentation that's easily manageable, so I think sticking it on our Confluence area is going to be the best bet in the interim until we find a better solution.


author: Christopher Watson
body: I think that's a great idea, Kieran. Wish I could help! :)


author: Christopher Watson
body: @Kieran Senior \[Atlassian\] Over a year ago, you made the excellent suggestion of loading the SourceTree documentation into Confluence. Has that happened?


author: grant little
body: @Christopher Watson \[Rev Agency\]version 1.7.0.32509 on windows. Still no help. Talk about a time waster, after wading my way through all this thread I finally found the help online: <https://confluence.atlassian.com/display/SOURCETREEKB/SourceTree+Basics>


author: Sean Mann
body: This is pretty wonky. Where's the help for windows? I just want an overview of the GUI it's been over 2 years, just publish a PDF ![cheeky](/html/@FAF1B8ED81FE63CF2DF635B2383CF9FB/images/emoticons/cheeky.png "cheeky")


author: johnbarnaby
body: Just love the 'new' [Git tutorials](https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/) specifically the [Gitflow Workflow](https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials/comparing-workflows/gitflow-workflow) with the only caveat being it would be great if they had screenshots using Sourcetree instead of just the command line.


author: Rob Newman
body: What I think is missing from the help documenation, is maybe some of the NON git command features.. such as an explanation of the icons, some funtional, some appearntly informational but not sure what they mean, and numbers with arrows next to them in various places, which there is a fair amount of in this app


author: Cedric Walter
body: in between you can download sourcetree for mac (latest is 1.7.4.1), unpack the directory

SourceTree_1.7.4.1.dmg\\0.hfs\\SourceTree\\SourceTree.app\\Contents\\Resources\\SourceTree Help\\

to see the html help of sourcetree for mac...

comments: author: johnbarnaby
body: @Cedric Walter, thanks for the tip and for 'SourceTree Version 1.8.1' I am seeing this documentation by opening up using a browser index.html located at: '/Applications/SourceTree.app/Contents/Resources/SourceTree Help/index.html' on my late 2013 iMac running OS X 10.9.2, but I do not see a way to access this specific documentation from within the SourceTree App itself so if anybody knows thanks in advance for posting your solution.


author: KieranA
body: It's where it is for all Mac apps:

Help \> SourceTree Help.

Cheers


author: johnbarnaby
body: @Kieran Senior, thanks and just reinstalled SourceTree and now I am seeing SourceTree Help. By the way, the discussion on Git Flow in the SourceTree Help documentation is a wonderful addition which I will definitely be following as it really simplifies the whole branching process using this [Git branching model](http://nvie.com/posts/a-successful-git-branching-model/) so kudos to SourceTree for adding this functionality and for having this tool which seems more productive than working from the command line.


author: KieranA
body: The Help docs for SourceTree are vastly out of date, we're hatching a battle plan to tackle the docs in a cleaner, more understandable manner that's available both online and offline.

I also use git-flow in a project, and it's much easier using it from the app than from the terminal, just because you immediately see the changes reflected in the log once you perform the operation in SourceTree. Always good to hear it's helping!

Cheers


author: Christopher Watson
body: Was your battle plan for docs ever hatched? Or did it rot in the shell? Your post is over a year old, and I don't see that anything has been done... even to simply port the Mac help files over to Windows. Holy moly! Isn't there SOME way to export the Mac help files out to a PDF, or any other kind of platform-independent format for consumption by all of your Windoes users? I can't, for the life of me, come up with any valid technical reasons for not being able to provide the Mac help over on Windows. But I'd love to be told those reasons.


author: Lex Macy
body: @Kiernan (or anyone), **where is the Help screens you have pictured above** ? It is not listed under the "Help" menu tab in the SourceTree UI and I am unable to find it via google search either. Why isn't there any **'official' documentation on the SourceTree website for beginners** using this tool? Thanks.

comments: author: KieranA
body: Hi Lex,

If you're using the Mac version (which is what I had shown) then under the "Help" menu "SourceTree Help" menu item.

If you're using Windows unfortunately there's no help documentation yet, but we are working on it.

Thanks


author: Ryan Neve
body: almost two years later, there still isn't


author: Fred Riley
body: Over 2 years later, and there still isn't :(


author: Mitul Doshi
body: Hi,

I am also advise to prepare user training materials for Sourcetree for Windows.

Could you please help if any exisiting doc/help/ppt/pdf/video is there?


author: Hashim TK
body: Eagerly waiting for your tutorial on windows


author: Mike Daddo
body: Is there some way you can dump the Mac help files into a PDF or the like for us Windows user. I'm a newbie and this was recommended to me, but no tutorial or help files makes it tough going.

comments: author: KieranA
body: We're planning on expanding the help on both Mac and Windows in the future, sit tight and it'll be here before you know it. Cheers!


author: Christopher Watson
body: I've been sitting tight. And now my butt really hurts. How long does it take to port some help files? Wow....


author: Sean Mann
body: 2 years...


author: zierlmarco
body: This is actually the first great/professionell tool i have come across that does not have ANY documentation - at leat not in the windows version. Maybe they want us to switch to MacOS?


author: Sotirca Mihai
body: just started using it on windows and this video <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnkiKrruJiE> really helped

comments: author: Suejung Huh
body: Hey, that video is not in English. :-)


author: Lex Macy
body: Thanks, Kiernan. Yes, I am on a windows box. I'll go back to using command line.