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Module 01: Introduction to Git

Overview

This module introduces version control and Git fundamentals. You will learn why Git exists, how it works at a high level, and how to get set up with your first repository and basic workflow.

Learning Objectives

  • Explain what version control is and why it matters
  • Describe Git's history and core design ideas
  • Differentiate centralized and distributed version control
  • Understand Git's main concepts and terminology
  • Install Git and configure your identity
  • Create a repository and make your first commit
  • Use the basic Git workflow to track changes

Topics Covered

1.1 Version Control Basics

  • What is version control?
  • Problems it solves
  • Common workflows and collaboration

1.2 Why Git?

  • Benefits of Git
  • Speed, integrity, and flexibility
  • Git in modern development teams

1.3 History of Git

  • Why Git was created
  • Early design goals
  • How Git evolved

1.4 Centralized vs Distributed VCS

  • Centralized model (SVN, CVS)
  • Distributed model (Git, Mercurial)
  • Tradeoffs and use cases

1.5 Core Git Terminology

  • Repository, commit, branch, tag
  • Working tree, staging area, history
  • Remote and upstream

1.6 Git Architecture and Objects

  • Blob, tree, commit, tag objects
  • SHA identifiers
  • Content-addressed storage

1.7 Installing Git

  • macOS, Windows, Linux options
  • Verifying installation
  • Updating Git

1.8 First-Time Configuration

  • user.name and user.email
  • Default branch name
  • Line endings

1.9 Creating Your First Repository

  • git init and project structure
  • First commit
  • Viewing history

1.10 Basic Workflow

  • Modify, stage, commit
  • git status, git add, git commit
  • Reviewing changes

1.11 Getting Help

  • git help and manual pages
  • git help -a and git help -g
  • Reading the output effectively

Hands-on Exercises

  1. Install Git and verify the version.
  2. Configure your name and email in Git.
  3. Initialize a new repository and make a first commit.
  4. Edit a file, stage the change, and commit it.
  5. Use git log to review commit history.

Key Takeaways

  • Git is a distributed version control system built for speed and reliability.
  • Git stores content using SHA identifiers and objects.
  • The basic workflow is: edit, stage, commit.
  • A small set of commands covers most day-to-day tasks.

Additional Resources

  • Git documentation (built-in git help)
  • Git Book (Pro Git)
  • Official Git website

Assessment

  • Quiz on core Git terms and models
  • Practical: initialize a repository and make commits
  • Short answer: describe centralized vs distributed VCS

Next Module

Module 02 will cover Git basics in depth (status, diff, log, and reset).