Git is a distributed version control system that allows developers to manage and track changes to their codebase over time. It allows multiple developers to work on the same codebase simultaneously without overwriting each other’s changes.
Here are some of the common features and concepts in Git:
- Repository: A Git repository is a collection of files and directories that are being tracked by Git. A repository can be local or remote, and it contains all the version history of the tracked files.
- Commit: A commit is a snapshot of the current state of the codebase at a particular point in time. It includes the changes made to the files since the last commit, along with a commit message that describes the changes.
- Branch: A branch is a parallel version of the codebase that can be created to isolate changes from the main codebase. It allows developers to work on different features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase until the changes are ready to be merged.
- Merge: Merging is the process of combining changes from one branch into another. This is typically done to bring changes made in a feature branch into the main codebase.
- Pull request: A pull request is a request to merge changes made in a feature branch into the main codebase. It allows developers to review and discuss the changes before they are merged.
In software development, Git is commonly used in conjunction with online services such as GitHub or GitLab, which provide web-based interfaces for managing repositories, reviewing changes, and collaborating with other developers. Git is a powerful tool that can greatly improve the efficiency and collaboration of software development teams.