Understanding the Git Workflow

Git operates through three main areas:

1. Working Directory: This is where you modify files in your project. Any changes made here are considered unstaged.
2. Staging Area (Index): Files added to this area are prepared for the next commit. This allows you to control which changes are included.
3. Repository: The committed changes are stored here as a permanent part of the project's history. This can be local or remote (on GitHub, GitLab, etc.).

The workflow generally follows this sequence:

1. Modify files in the working directory.
2. Add specific files to the staging area (git add).
3. Commit the staged changes to the repository (git commit).
4. Push commits to a remote repository for backup or collaboration (git push).

Creating a New Repository (git init)

To start tracking files with Git, initialize a new repository:

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mkdir my_project
cd my_project
git init

This creates a hidden .git directory that holds all version control information.

Tracking Files & Making Commits

After initializing a repository, Git does not automatically track files. You must explicitly add them:

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echo "# My Project" > README.md

Check the status of the repository:

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git status

Stage the file:

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git add README.md

Commit the changes with a meaningful message:

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git commit -m "Initial commit: Added README"

Viewing Changes (git status, git diff)

• git status shows which files are modified, staged, or untracked.
• git diff displays differences between the working directory and the staging area.
• git diff --staged compares the staging area with the last commit.

Understanding Commit History (git log, git show)

• git log displays the commit history in reverse chronological order.
• git log --oneline gives a concise summary of commits.
• git show <commit_hash> provides details of a specific commit.

Example:

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git log --oneline

Output:

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4f6b3c2 Initial commit: Added README

To view details of a commit:

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git show 4f6b3c2

Hands-on Exercise: Create a New Repo, Track Changes, and Commit with Meaningful Messages

1. Initialize a new Git repository:

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   mkdir my_git_project
   cd my_git_project
   git init
   

2. Create a new file and check Git status:

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   echo "Hello, Git!" > hello.txt
   git status
   

3. Stage and commit the file:

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   git add hello.txt
   git commit -m "Added hello.txt with a greeting message"
   

4. Modify the file and view changes:

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   echo "Welcome to version control." >> hello.txt
   git diff
   

5. Stage and commit the changes:

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   git add hello.txt
   git commit -m "Updated hello.txt with an additional message"
   

6. View commit history:

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   git log --oneline
   

This exercise helps solidify the Git workflow and best practices for managing source code effectively.