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Understanding Git: How it tracks, pushes and pulls code on Ubuntu

#webdev #github #git #dataengineering

Before we dive into how Git tracks changes and handles pushing and pulling code, let’s first understand what Git is, what it does, and how it works together with GitHub.

What is Git?

Git is a version control system. This means it works on your computer first, even without internet. Think of it as a time machine for your code.

Git allows you to track changes to your files, save versions of your project, revert to earlier states and collaborate safely with others.
GitHub, on the other hand, is a remote platform where Git repositories are stored online.

Installing Git and linking it to GitHub

Before installing Git, first go to your web browser and create a GitHub account. Go to your terminal after creating the account.

Step 1: Install Git 

sudo apt update

Install Git:

sudo apt install git -y

Verify Git installation:

git --version

`Shows Git is successfully installed on Ubuntu.`
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Step 2: Configure Git Identity 

Set your name:

git config --global user.name "Your_Name"

Set your email:

git config --global user.email "your_email@gmail.com"

Check configuration:

git config --list

user.name=Your Name
user.email=your_email@gmail.com`
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Shows Git configuration including username and email.

user.name=Your Name → Git knows who is making commits. This name appears in the commit history.

user.email=your_email@gmail.com → Git associates your commits with this email. It must match your GitHub account email.
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This confirms Git is configured correctly. Without this, Git will not track who is making changes, and commits may not appear properly on GitHub.

Step 3: Create SSH Key and Link to GitHub 

Generate a secure SSH key:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@gmail.com"

Start SSH agent:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

Add your key to the agent:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Display your public key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Test the connection:

ssh -T git@github.com
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Example of wrong input:

ssh -T git@github.com
`Permission denied (publickey).`
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Correct output:

Hi username! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

Shows a successful authentication with GitHub via SSH.

Step 4: Create a GitHub Repository

Create a new repository on GitHub and do not initialize with README. This will be your remote repository.

Step 5: Create Local Project Directory 

Create a new folder and navigate into it:

mkdir beginner-git-project
cd beginner-git-project

Shows folder creation and navigation.
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Step 6: Initialize Git 

git init

Shows that the folder is now a Git repository.
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Step 7: Create a File 

Create a README file:

touch README.md
echo "# Beginner Git Project" >> README.md

Check repository status:

git status

Example of wrong input:

git statuz

Output:

`git: 'statuz' is not a git command. See 'git --help'.`
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Step 8: Stage Changes 

git add .

Check status:

git status

Shows staged files ready to commit.
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Step 9: Commit Changes 

git commit -m "Initial commit"

Example of wrong input:

git commit -m Initial commit

Output:

`error: pathspec 'Initial' did not match any file(s) known to git`

Correct syntax requires quotes around the commit message.
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Step 10: Connect Local Repo to GitHub 

Add the remote repository:

git remote add origin git@github.com:username/beginner-git-project.git
git remote -v

Shows the remote repository connection.
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Step 11: Push Code to GitHub 

Rename branch to main:

git branch -M main

Push your code:

git push -u origin main

Example of wrong push command:

git push
`fatal: No configured push destination.`

This occurs if the remote wasn’t added.
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Step 12: Pull Changes from GitHub 

git pull origin main

Downloads the latest changes from GitHub and merges them into your local project.
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Step 13: View Project History 

git log

Exit the log view:

q
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Why Git Matters (Data Science & Data Engineering)

  • Track notebooks & pipelines

  • Collaborate safely

  • Revert mistakes

  • Production-ready workflows

Git allows developers, data scientists, and engineers to track code changes, collaborate safely, and recover from mistakes. By understanding each command and its purpose, beginners can confidently manage projects and work professionally using Git and GitHub.

Learning Git on Ubuntu empowers you to manage projects confidently and collaborate effectively. Whether you’re working on ETL pipelines, machine learning models, or data analysis notebooks, Git ensures your work is organized, secure, and scalable.

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