Git is a distributed version control system designed to manage source code history and facilitate collaboration among developers. Here's a summarized overview of Git's key functionalities:
Version Control:
Git tracks changes to files and directories over time, creating a version history.
Each commit represents a snapshot of the project at a specific point in time.
Branching:
Developers can create branches to work on features or bug fixes independently of the main codebase.
Branches allow parallel development and experimentation.
Merging:
Changes made in one branch can be merged back into another branch, combining different lines of development.
Git automatically handles merging when possible; conflicts require manual resolution.
Remote Repositories:
Git supports collaboration by allowing repositories to be hosted remotely on services like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
Developers can clone, push, and pull changes between local and remote repositories.
Clone:
Developers can create a copy of a remote repository on their local machine using the git clone command.
Commit:
Changes are staged and committed using the git commit command, with each commit having a unique identifier.
Pull and Fetch:
git pull fetches changes from a remote repository and merges them into the current branch.
git fetch fetches changes from a remote repository but doesn't automatically merge them.
Push:
Developers use git push to upload their local changes to a remote repository, making them accessible to others.
Status:
The git status command shows the current state of the working directory, indicating changes, untracked files, and branch information.
Log:
git log provides a history of commits, including details like author, date, and commit messages.
Tagging:
Tags in Git allow developers to mark specific points in history, often used for version releases.
Stashing:
Developers can use git stash to save changes temporarily, allowing them to switch branches or perform other tasks without committing incomplete work.
These fundamental Git functionalities provide a robust and flexible version control system for managing collaborative software development projects.