The importance of version control: Getting started with Git Par :Kiana Seitz May 14, 2025 Estimated reading time: 6 minutes. When working in a team setting in programming or software development, you want to ensure you can track all changes in your source code using version control. Tracking changes using version control is the best way to revert back to previous versions, test new modifications, and find ways to make improvements. Git is a software and tool developers use to manage version control in software development. It's a powerful system designed to improve collaboration and streamline workplace productivity. If you're just getting started with Git or looking to launch your career in software development, you'll need a basic understanding of Git practices. Here's everything you need to know: What is version control, and why does it matter? Version control is a system that tracks changes to source code and digital files. It can help improve workplace collaboration and reduce the risk of lost code or overwritten files. There are two different types of version control systems: centralized and distributed. Centralized version control stays attached to a central service, and developers need network access to adjust the source code. A distributed version control system is an open-source system managed from anywhere, even offline. The most popular distributed version control system is Git. Why Git? Understanding its importance in development Git is a distributed version control system that helps software developers work together more efficiently and track all changes made to a codebase. If anyone on your team accidentally breaks the code or deletes something, you can revert to previous versions or make a modification. Git vs. GitHub Git is a version control system that lives on your computer. While GitHub is a web-based program that hosts Git repositories. You'll use GitHub to collaborate with your team and easily pull requests from your Git repositories. GitHub is typically needed in a team setting and is not necessary if you're working by yourself on a localized version. However, if you want to back up your code to the cloud or share your work with someone else, it's a great tool to enhance your day-to-day. Check out Lighthouse Labs’ GitHub. Key Git concepts and terminology Git is considered the industry standard version control system. If you want to start a career in software development, you'll need to learn how it works and the basic terminology. This will give you a competitive edge during interviews and ensure you understand the tools required for the job. Here are a few basic terms you'll need to know: Repository (repo) The repository is a project folder containing the complete version history of your code. There are two different types of repositories, local and remote. A local repository is stored on your computer, and the remote version is shared with the team. You use your local repository to test code before committing to any changes. Once you're ready to implement, you'll move the code over to your remote repo. Commits and commit history A commit provides a look at the changes you make to a code or system, and commit history is a log of all these changes. Each commit includes a unique ID and a message. It will also tell you who made the change and when. Branches and merging If you want to test changes before implementing them, you create a branch. Once you're happy with the changes on your branch, you can merge them into the main branch. This is the safest way to test new ideas or patch a bug without committing to a full change. Pull requests and code reviews You submit a pull request once you’re ready to merge changes from one branch to another. Before merging, you may request a code review. During a code review, your team members may review the code and provide recommendations before implementation. Getting started with Git: A step-by-step guide. Once you understand the basics, Git is relatively easy to use. It's the industry standard for open-source projects and will help you work more effectively in a team setting. Here's how to get started with Git and version control in web development. Setting up Git Git can be installed on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Once it's installed, you'll need to create a username and email. Your email will be used to associate commits to your account. This ensures that all changes you make to the code are associated with your email and username. Basic Git commands every beginner should know Basic Git commands are tools you'll use to collaborate with team members and to effectively track changes made to different files. Understanding the Git commands will help you work with the platform more effectively. Here are six you'll need to know before using Git. git init – Creating a new repository git clone – Cloning an existing repository git add – Staging changes git commit -m "message" – Saving changes git push and git pull – Syncing with a remote repository git status and git log – Checking changes and history To be productive with this platform, you must at least understand the basics. Once you know the basics, you can grow your knowledge with more high-level commands. There are over 150 Git commands to learn. These are categorized into two levels, Porcelain Commands and Plumbing Commands. Working with branches Think of your branch as your workplace setup. You'll need to create separate branches for each task and project you're working on to ensure one doesn't interfere with another. This makes it easier to test and analyze code without implementing it. You can create a branch for any project or task you want to test. Whether you're looking to make changes to your website or you're working on a side project. Branches are designed to be merged with others. Once you're done testing a branch, you'll want to merge it with the main branch and delete it after. You can switch branches using the commands git checkout and git switch. Git checkout allows you to switch to a different branch or create a new branch. This is an older method that is still widely used by Software Developers. Git switch is the newer approach that is only used to switch branches. It was introduced in Git 2.23. Using GitHub/GitLab for collaboration Git works alongside GitHub and GitLab. These add-ons help streamline collaboration for teams working with Git. GitHub is integrated with the cloud and used to pull requests for code reviews for open-source projects, while GitLab is used to merge requests for self-hosted environments. You can also sync GitHub with GitLab to get the most from the platform features. Common Git mistakes and how to fix them Git is an incredibly flexible platform. You can easily undo and adjust changes or errors without impacting your team's work. Here's a quick look at common mistakes you may run into and how you can fix them from your end: Undoing commits If you want to undo a commit, you can use Git reset or Git revert. Git reset allows you to undo one or more commits at a time. Git reset is the better option when you want to keep the changes you made but undo the last commit you tried to implement. To revert to a previous version, you can use Git revert. This will allow you to completely erase any errors or changes made and revert to a previous version. Resolving merge conflicts If you try to merge two branches that both changed the same code, Git won’t be able to automatically complete the merge. However, the system won't know which version of the file you want to keep. The best way to do this is to use the Git merge tool. The Git merge tool will allow you to manually edit the file and adjust it accordingly. Recovering lost changes If you or a team member accidentally delete a change that you need, you can use Git fsck to bring back the changes. Git reflog can also be used to recover deleted branches or a commit. Best practices for using Git in projects Git has some of the best branching capabilities for a platform. It's simple, easy to use, and great for collaboration. To ensure you get the most out of the platform, you'll want to: Writing clear commit messages When writing commit messages for Git, you'll want to use clear, concise, and descriptive messaging. Avoid using words or jargon that are too generic. You'll also want to avoid being too wordy. Using .gitignore to exclude unnecessary files Adding a .gitgnore rule is a quick and simple way to exclude unnecessary files. You can use this plain text file to tell the system to ignore temporary files, logs, and dependent directories. Keeping branches clean and organized When developing branches with Git, you should always keep your work clear, clean, and organized. This is the best way to efficiently test changes. It also makes it easier to compare multiple versions of code and decide which option is best for your branching strategy. Next steps in mastering Git If you want to kickstart a career in software engineering, you'll need to first master Git. Git is the industry standard. It's an essential tool needed for most software projects. To further your learning, you'll want to read through official Git documentation and consider registering for an online course. Consider also reviewing tutorials for basic changes you make. If you're ready to become a job-ready Web Developer, consider enrolling in Lighthouse Labs’ Web Development Bootcamp. Our bootcamp will have you proficient in version control and Git in just 12 or 30 weeks. If you’re looking to gain software development skills that will help in your current career, check out the Lighthouse Labs Intro to Web Development Course. Keep track of the development of your project with GitHub in this course and work through challenges on your own.