What is Git?

Git is a version control system that was introduced in 2005 by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. To quote the readme file of the source code, “the name ‘git’ can mean anything, depending on your mood.” and since this is a SFW article, we’ll leave it at that… But you can learn the deeper (and funnier) meaning elsewhere. Since that tells you absolutely nothing, let's dive in below.

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So, what the heck is "Git"?

Git is a tool for managing changes to a project's codebase over time. It allows developers to track changes to their code, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions of work if necessary. Git is particularly well-suited for distributed and remote teams, where developers may be working on the same codebase from different locations.

One of the key benefits of Git is that it makes the software development process much more efficient while also making it easy to track who made what changes and when. Just like Google Docs and other collaborative editors can show you who is active, viewing, or making/made changes.

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Why Learn Git?

Put simply, learning the philosophy and terminology about version control tools can be an invaluable skill as it’s widely used in the industry. There are many resources available for learning Git, including online tutorials, books, and videos. By investing some time in learning Git, even if you work solo, you will gain valuable knowledge that can serve you well throughout your career.

You may also be thinking… But what about the numerous tools like GitHub, GitLab, Git SCM, GitKraken, TortoiseGit, deep breath, BitBucket, GitBucket, SourceForge - you get it. There are lots of tools out there and they are generally accomplishing the same thing; providing users and teams with a tool for source control (or version control) of their code or documentation. If you're just getting started, sign up for GitHub and utilize the endless tutorials that exist on the web.