Name: Features of Git
Uploaded: 2023-03-16T14:10:49Z
Duration: 6 min 3 s
Description: Find out how to contrast Git with other version control systems and identify its main features. In this video we will explore the features of the popular control system Git, an open-source version-distributed system which tracks changes in source code during software development.

An understanding of Github and Git commands is essential for anyone looking to work in a collaborative software development space. These videos explore the features of Git, as well as branching and merging, two of the most important skills for collaborating on Github.

Developer Tools

Find out how to contrast Git with other version control systems and identify its main features. In this video we will explore the features of the popular control system Git, an open-source version-distributed system which tracks changes in source code during software development.

Features of Git

Now that we have covered the basics of version control systems. And have also seen how Git records changes to files over a period of time. We can now take a closer look at the features of the Git version control system. We will stick with the tea recipe example we have been working with so far.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Working on the Source Files [Video description ends]

And let's just say all of this needs to be stored within the Git version control system. When working with Git, you would create something known as a repository. This is effectively a container for your source code, and typically users create one repository for each project. In order to share your source code with your broader team, and potentially with the general public, you could create such a repository online. And as we have covered already. Different versions of your source file will be saved as the original version of the file, followed by a series of modifications. Now if it is someone else who has developed the source code and you need to begin working on it. You will likely need to get the latest version of the source files. And in the case of our tea recipe, you know that version three is the latest version. And it can be recovered by taking version one and then applying the changes. So this is the latest version of the file which you have downloaded to your workspace. And with many version control systems it is only this version which you can download locally. It is the online repository which contains all of the previous versions. This is not how Git works, however.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Git [Video description ends]

I'm going back to the definition, which we saw earlier on. It is a distributed version-control system. What this means is that we have what is called a remote repository.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Remote Repository [Video description ends]

Which is online and contains the original source code, followed by all of the recorded changes for each file in the project. For anyone who wishes to start development work on this project. Well, they can simply copy over this remote repository into a local repository or local repo for short.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Local Repository [Video description ends]

What is significant though is that you don't just download the latest version of the source files but the entire recorded history. Which is why in Git terminology, when you copy over a remote repo to your local machine. What you have done is clone the repository into your workspace. So this local repo is now exactly the same as a remote repository, which means that there are now multiple copies of that repo. In other words it is distributed and this is how Git is referred to as a distributed version control system.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Source Code Development [Video description ends]

The benefit of such an approach is that it is possible for a developer to record, in other words, commit their changes to a local repository. Even when they are offline. So in this example, consider that the remote repository has the original source followed by four changes. And the developer who has cloned this repo over to the local machine has now recorded a fifth change. Well, let's just go further ahead and then record a sixth change as well. Since this local repo works pretty much exactly the same as the remote one, these changes are recorded in exactly the same manner. Which means that this developer can revert to one of the earlier versions. If they feel that the changes which they have recorded need to be rolled back. So developers have all of the benefits of a version control system, even when working offline, since they have a full-fledged local repository. At some point though, the developer will be ready to share the changes which they have made to the source code. So they will need to copy over all of the changes which they have recorded from their local repo over to the remote. And this process in Git terminology is referred to as a push. So to summarize, this whole process started with a developer cloning a remote repository and thus creating a local repo. He then made changes to the source files. And then they recorded these changes in the local repo in the form of commits. These commits can then be pushed over to the remote repo. And when that happens, the remote repo and the local repo are in sync. So we just covered some of the fundamental operations when working with the Git version control system.

[Video description begins]  Screen title: Features of Git [Video description ends]

With that said, let's take a look at some of the overall features of Git. We have already covered the fact that it is a distributed version control system. Each time a developer begins work on source code which is stored in a Git repo. They will need to create a clone of the repository which means that they end up creating a distributed copy. Another important feature of Git is that it is both free and open source. Which is certainly one of the reasons for its widespread adoption these days. Beyond that, it is also rather small. And importantly, all of its operations are rather quick, especially when compared to older version control systems. While all of this makes Git rather simple to use, it also includes features which make it easier for you to build robust code. For example, Git supports the concept of creating branches of your repo and then merging those branches into your main source. This topic of branching and merging is something we will explore in greater depth in the next video.

Join us for an assortment of livestreams where we cover topics such as interview prep, introductions to programming languages, project walkthroughs  — and so much more!

All Livestreams

There is a lot of excitement around AI, but what is it and how could it be relevant to your career? Watch these videos to learn the basics of AI and Machine Learning.

Artificial Intelligence

Augmented reality is alive and well. Learn how to make your first AR experience using the popular web framework A-Frame — with guidance from our Curriculum Developers.

Augmented Reality

Learn how to build a Web Dev Portfolio with Codecademy.

Building a Web Dev Portfolio

No matter what your coding goals are, the best place to start is by building a strong foundation. In this live series, we learn Computer Science fundamentals that are similar to content you’d see in a first-semester CS101 college course.

CS101

Cloud computing and its related services have unlocked seemingly endless possibilities for organizations with an online presence. These videos give an overview of what cloud computing is and what business considerations are made when adopting cloud tools.

Cloud Computing

Welcome to the Community Club & Study Group Events playlist, which are hosted by our incredible Club Captains. This collection features a series of engaging and informative events hosted by our dedicated Club Captains from around the globe. Whether you're interested in Web Development, Python programming, or simply want to connect with tech enthusiasts from different cities, this playlist has something for everyone.

Explore sessions from vibrant cities like Seoul and New York City, where our Club Captains share their expertise and insights on a variety of topics. Each event is designed to help you expand your knowledge, enhance your skills, and connect with a community of like-minded individuals.

Join us as we dive into the world of technology, learn from industry experts, and get inspired by the innovative projects and discussions led by our passionate Club Captains. Don't forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell to stay updated on the latest events and content!

Happy learning and coding!

Community Club & Study Group Events

A playlist of Quick Tip videos for Codecademy Chapter Leaders.

Community: Chapter Leader Quick Tips

Join our Chapters for live conversations on various topics — including NFT art and how to break into a technical field.

Community: Chapters

We think that connecting with other learners is the best way to learn. Explore some of our past community-led events here!

Community: Events

Hackathons are a great way to test your knowledge and flex your skills. Check out our hackathon presentations here.

Community: Hackathon

Explore the world of creative coding with p5.js, an open-source JavaScript library. We'll create drawings, animations, and video sculptures in this beginner-friendly series.

Creative Coding with p5.js

Strong cybersecurity practices are essential to every organization, be it a school, hospital, or company. These videos review common cybersecurity strategies, as well as common threats and how to identify them.

Cybersecurity

Companies can collect vast amounts of data and struggle to properly use it. Data Analytics is used to interpret and communicate relevant patterns of data for a business. These videos explore how companies utilize data analytics, and current popular tools.

Data Analytics

Data Science is used in a variety of ways to help businesses make decisions. In these videos we explore data science best practices, considerations for what tools to use, and the basics of machine learning.

Data Science

How data is presented can be as important as how it is collected. These videos explore foundational strategies and best practices to ensure that your data visualizations are meaningful and accurate.

Data Visualization

There are a lot of terms and acronyms in the world of programming. Explore the definitions of common terms used in popular languages and frameworks.

Definitions

DevOps is a series of practices that fosters a culture of collaboration between the Development and Operations team in software development. This playlist explores the benefits of DevOps, and how it is practiced in organizations.

DevOps

HTML and CSS lie at the heart of web development. We explore some of their uses with these tutorials and explainers.

HTML & CSS

Preparing for a career in a technical field? Check out these interview tips — including advice on building a portfolio and showcasing your skills.

Interview Prep

Emojicode is a real programming language with a playful emoji syntax in place of traditional programming keywords. Learning it can bring some smiles and fun to your programming journey. Join us for an introduction to this silly language.

Intro to Emojicode

TypeScript builds on your JavaScript foundation so you can develop higher-quality, less error-prone code faster. Learn more about this in-demand language as Codecademy Curriculum Developers guide us through an introduction.

Intro to TypeScript

JavaScript has many functionalities, from web development to gaming applications. We break down the programming language and explain how it works with these tutorials.

JavaScript

From Product Manager to Data Scientist, we take a look at different careers in tech and what these roles entail.

Jobs in Coding

Experience a full day of learning to code with interactive instruction and guided discussions by the Curriculum team at Codecademy.

Learn From Home Day

Learn UI/UX

See how people around the world are reshaping their lives by learning to code.

Learner Stories

Linear regression is a fundamental machine learning algorithm used for predictive modeling and data analysis. Learn more about it as Codecademy Curriculum Developers guide you through our course: Linear Regression in Python

Linear Regression with Python

Machine learning is one of the fastest expanding fields in tech, with applications in all parts of life. Watch these videos to learn the basics of Machine Learning.

Machine Learning

Almost everything we do creates data, and knowing how to investigate and communicate it is key. Our Curriculum Developers show us how to summarize data and run hypothesis tests following our Skill Path: Master Statistics with Python.

Master Stats with Python

Mobile development is a massive field with a variety of unique tools. These videos explore two essential tools for mobile developers, the Android operating system and Flutter software development kit.

Mobile Development

Official Codecademy Events

Whether you’re solving for skill gaps, building a more innovative and resourceful team, or aiming to onboard quickly, Codecademy Teams helps your whole company build the right tech and professional skills to quickly adapt to industry shifts and meet changing business needs.

Product Demos

Since its release in 1994, Python stands tall as many developers’ favorite programming language. Explore its many capabilities with these livestreams and tutorials.

Python

The R language is a popular tool for Data Analysts. Learn more about this free, open-source programming language with these livestreams.

We asked recruiters in our community to share advice for people navigating the job-hunting process — from tips for optimizing your resume to advice on acing the technical interview.

Recruiter Advice

We show you how to get started on your coding projects — from setting up developer tools to pushing your code to GitHub.

Setting Up

Just starting out on your coding journey? We’ve gathered tips for helping you start — including advice on how to choose your first programming language and how to remember everything you’re learning.

Tips

Our Curriculum Developers will lead you on a journey as you go from complete beginner to proficiency with data visualization, using Python. This is a weekly series that will lead you through our entire Visualize Data with Python Skill Path.

Visualize Data with Python

Web Design includes any skills used to create and maintain a website. These videos explore the foundational web design skills of adding styling to a website with CSS and HTML, as well as best practices in responsive web design.

Web Design

Join the millions learning to code with Codecademy.

Welcome to Codecademy

You know all of those app ideas you’ve been wanting to create? Swift and SwiftUI can help you bring them to life for iOS. Learn how to build your very own iPhone app from start to finish in this live series.

Features of Git

More videos

Learn more on Codecademy

Learn Git & GitHub

Deploying Websites using Git and GitHub

Resources

Support

Resources

Support

Plans

Community

Subjects

Languages

Career building

Mobile

Mobile