How Git Works: Explained in 4 Minutes

Summary

In this video, Sahn, co-author of system design interview books, simplifies the Git workflow by explaining the four main locations where your code lives: Working Directory, Staging Area, Local Repository, and Remote Repository. He walks through key commands like git clone, git add, git commit, git push, and git pull. The video also covers Git branching, helping you work on isolated features without disrupting the main codebase. For beginners, graphical tools like GitHub Desktop and SourceTree are recommended. The video ends with an invitation to subscribe to the popular System Design newsletter, trusted by 500,000 readers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Git can be confusing at first, but understanding a few key concepts clears things up.
• 😀 There are four main locations where your code exists in Git: Working Directory, Staging Area, Local Repository, and Remote Repository.
• 😀 The Working Directory is where you actively edit files locally, serving as your playground.
• 😀 The Staging Area is a temporary space where changes are prepared before committing.
• 😀 The Local Repository stores committed changes, locking in your changes and creating a permanent record.
• 😀 The Remote Repository (like GitHub) is used for sharing and backing up your code with collaborators.
• 😀 Git commands, like git clone, move files between these four locations, making it easy to track changes.
• 😀 You use git add to stage changes and git commit to save them permanently to your Local Repository.
• 😀 When ready, use git push to upload your commits to the Remote Repository, sharing with your team.
• 😀 To get your teammates' updates, use git pull, which combines git fetch and git merge to integrate changes.
• 😀 Git branching enables isolated feature development, allowing you to work without affecting the main codebase.

Q & A

What are the four main locations where your code lives in Git?

The four main locations where your code lives in Git are: The Working Directory (where you actively edit files locally), The Staging Area (a temporary holding spot for changes before committing), The Local Repository (where committed changes are stored locally), and The Remote Repository (a server like GitHub or Bitbucket for sharing and backing up code).

What is the purpose of the Working Directory in Git?

The Working Directory is your local development environment where you make changes to your code. It is the place where you actively edit files before staging and committing them.

What happens when you use the 'git add' command?

'git add' stages a snapshot of your files, preparing them to be committed. It moves your changes from the Working Directory to the Staging Area, essentially gathering the changes you want to finalize in the next commit.

How does the 'git commit' command work?

'git commit' takes a snapshot of the files in the Staging Area and saves them to your Local Repository. This creates a permanent record of your changes, which can be referred back to like a snapshot in time.

What does the 'git push' command do?

'git push' sends your committed changes from your Local Repository to the Remote Repository. This allows you to share your progress with the team or back up your work on a shared server like GitHub or Bitbucket.

How do you integrate your teammates' changes using Git?

To integrate your teammates' work, you use the 'git pull' command. This fetches the latest updates from the Remote Repository and merges them into your Local Repository. It combines 'git fetch' (which grabs updates) and 'git merge' (which integrates those updates).

What is the purpose of 'git checkout' or 'git switch' in Git?

'git checkout' or 'git switch' allows you to switch between different branches in Git. This is useful when you need to work on a specific feature or context, such as fixing a bug on another branch.

What is Git branching, and why is it important?

Git branching allows you to diverge from the main codebase to develop new features without impacting the main code. It enables isolated development and collaboration workflows, allowing different team members to work on separate tasks simultaneously.

What is the difference between 'git merge' and 'git rebase'?

'git merge' integrates changes from one branch into another, preserving the commit history. 'git rebase' also integrates changes, but it rewrites the commit history, making it appear as if the changes were applied sequentially. Both commands are used to bring updates from different branches together.

How can graphical Git tools help new users?

Graphical Git tools like GitHub Desktop and SourceTree provide visual interfaces and shortcuts for common Git commands. These tools help new users get started with Git more easily by offering a more intuitive way to interact with Git repositories and commands.