DEV Community: Flovian Atieno

What is Git and Why Should You Care?

Flovian Atieno — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:25:54 +0000

If you’ve ever worked on a project and accidentally deleted something important, you know that sinking feeling. Or maybe you’ve saved multiple versions of the same file like project_final, project_final_1, project_final_FINAL… only to still lose track of what changed. It gets messy really fast.

That’s where Git comes in. Git is a tool that helps you keep track of changes in your project, organize your work, and even collaborate with others without stepping on each other’s toes. In this article, I’ll break down what Git is, how it works (at a basic level), and why it’s something every developer should learn early on.

What is Git?

In simple terms, Git is a version control system. That just means it helps you track changes in your files over time.

Think of it like the version history in Google Docs. Every time you make a change, you can go back and see what was edited, when it was edited, and even restore an older version if something breaks. Git does the same thing but for your code and projects.

Another way to think about it is like save points in a game. Every time you reach a safe point, you save your progress. If something goes wrong later, you don’t have to start from the beginning, you just load your last save. Git lets you create those “save points” whenever you want.

Why Should Anyone Care?

At first, Git might feel like “just another tool,” but once you start using it, you realize how important it is.

1. Tracking changes
Git keeps a history of everything you do. You can see exactly what changed, which makes debugging and understanding your code much easier.

2. Undoing mistakes
Made a mistake? No stress. You can go back to a previous version and fix things without breaking everything else.

3. Working safely on projects
Git lets you experiment without fear. You can try new ideas without affecting your main project (more on this with branches).

4. Collaboration
If you’re working with a team, Git is essential. Everyone can work on the same project at the same time without overwriting each other’s work.

5. Real-world relevance
Almost every tech job expects you to know Git. It’s not optional—it’s a core skill. Whether you’re a frontend dev, backend dev, or even a designer working with code, Git will come up.

Basic Concepts

Here are a few key terms you’ll hear a lot when using Git:

Repository (repo): This is your project folder that Git is tracking. It contains your code and its entire history.
Commit: A commit is like a save point. It records the changes you’ve made along with a message describing what you did.
Branch: A branch is a separate version of your project where you can work on new features without affecting the main version.
Merge: This is when you combine changes from one branch into another (usually into the main project).

Real-Life Example

Let’s say you’re building a small web app. Everything is working fine, but now you want to add a new feature maybe a login system.

Instead of editing your main code directly (and risking breaking it), you create a new branch. You work on the login feature there. If something goes wrong, your main project is still safe. Once everything works, you merge your changes back into the main version.

If you later realize something broke after the merge, Git allows you to go back and fix it easily. No panic, no lost work.

Getting Started

Getting started with Git is easier than it looks. First, you install Git on your computer. Then you can start using a few basic commands like:

git init – start a new repository
git add – stage your changes
git commit – save your changes

You can also use platforms like GitHub to store your code online and collaborate with others.

Conclusion

Git is basically your safety net as a developer. It helps you track your work, fix mistakes, and collaborate smoothly with others. Once you get used to it, you’ll wonder how you ever worked without it.

If you’re just starting out in tech, learning Git early will save you a lot of stress down the line. Take it step by step, practice a little every day, and it’ll start to feel natural.

How the Internet Works (Explained Like You're Just Getting Started)

Flovian Atieno — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 18:26:50 +0000

How the Internet Works (Explained Like You're Just Getting Started)

We use the internet every single day scrolling, watching videos, sending messages but if someone asked, “how does it actually work?”, most of us would pause for a second.

At some point, I realized I was using the internet a lot without really understanding what was happening behind the scenes. So I decided to break it down in the simplest way possible. If you're just getting into tech, this will help you connect the dots.

So… What Is the Internet?

The internet isn’t some “cloud” floating in the sky. It’s actually a huge network of computers connected all over the world.

Think of it like a massive system of roads. Instead of cars, what’s moving around are tiny pieces of data. And instead of cities, you have computers (also called servers) storing information like websites, videos, and apps.

When you open a website, you’re basically asking another computer somewhere in the world to send you information.

What Happens When You Open a Website?

Let’s say you type a website into your browser.

Here’s what happens (simplified):

Your device sends a request asking for that website
That request travels through networks to find the right server
The server responds by sending the data back to you
Your browser displays it as a website

It sounds simple, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes to make this fast and reliable.

IP Addresses (The Internet’s “Phone Numbers”)

Every device connected to the internet has something called an IP address.

You can think of it like a phone number or home address. It tells the internet where to send information.

The problem is, IP addresses are just numbers and not easy to remember. So instead of typing numbers, we use domain names (like google.com).

DNS (The Internet’s Phonebook)

DNS stands for Domain Name System.

Its job is simple: it translates human,friendly names into IP addresses.

So when you type a website name, DNS looks it up and finds the actual address of the server you’re trying to reach.

Without DNS, we’d have to memorize long strings of numbers just to browse the web.

How Data Actually Travels

Here’s the interesting part.

Data doesn’t travel as one big chunk. Instead, it’s broken into smaller pieces called packets.
Each packet:

Knows where it’s going
Travels through different routes
Gets reassembled when it reaches you

It’s kind of like sending multiple small parcels instead of one big package. Even if one path is busy, the data can find another route.

What Carries the Internet?

A lot of people think the internet is mostly wireless but most of it actually runs through physical cables.

We’re talking about:

Fiber optic cables (even under oceans)
Routers and switches
Cell towers (for mobile data)

These cables transmit data as light signals at very high speeds across the world.

So yeah, the internet is more “underground cables” than “cloud magic.”

Where Is All the Data Stored?

When you visit a website, the content isn’t coming from nowhere.

It’s stored in servers powerful computers located in data centers.

Big companies like Google or Netflix have massive server systems storing huge amounts of data, ready to send it to you whenever you request it.

Why This Matters (Especially in Tech)

Understanding how the internet works gives you a huge advantage as you learn tech.

You understand what happens when your app makes a request
Debugging becomes easier
Concepts like APIs, hosting, and networking make more sense

Instead of just “using” the internet, you start to understand it.

Final Thoughts

The internet might feel invisible, but it’s actually a very structured system made up of networks, cables, servers, and protocols all working together.

Once you break it down, it’s not as complicated as it seems.

If you're starting your tech journey, learning this early will help you a lot moving forward. It’s one of those things that just makes everything else click.

Give to Gain: Visiting St. Paul’s Primary School and the Future of Young Girls in Tech

Flovian Atieno — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:47:01 +0000

As we prepare for our International Women’s Day 2026 celebration at Zone01 Kisumu, our team of ladies in the program has been reaching out to different schools to invite girls to participate in the event.

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting St. Pauls Primary School in Kanyakwar, Kisumu, and the experience left a deep impression on me.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Give to Gain.” My visit reminded me exactly why this theme matters.

The Visit

During the visit, we formally invited the school to nominate five girls to attend our upcoming International Women’s Day celebration on March 6th, 2026, which will take place at Lake Basin Mall in Mamboleo.

While at the school, I had the opportunity to visit their computer lab and interact with some of the girls.

What I saw was both inspiring and eye-opening.

A Computer Lab with One Working Desktop

Despite the school having very limited resources, the students showed incredible curiosity and enthusiasm for technology.

The computer lab currently has only one working desktop computer, with the rest of the machines no longer functioning.

Yet even with these limitations, the girls demonstrated strong knowledge, curiosity, and confidence when talking about technology.

Their passion stood out immediately.

Brilliant Minds Waiting for Opportunity

I spoke with several students, and some of them shared their dreams of pursuing engineering and robotics in the future.

It was inspiring to hear such ambitions from young students who have had very limited exposure to technology tools.

Their teacher also deserves special recognition. Despite the lack of equipment, the teacher is deeply passionate about reviving the computer club and ensuring the students continue learning digital skills.

It reminded me that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not always equal.

Why Initiatives Like This Matter

Through our International Women’s Day event at Zone01 Kisumu, we hope to create that opportunity.

The girls who attend will participate in:

A hands-on tech workshop where they will learn basic coding
An introduction to tools like App Inventor
Group activities where they will build simple projects
Pitching sessions to help build confidence in presenting ideas
A Women in Tech spotlight session with inspiring role models

Our goal is not just to teach technology, but also to build confidence, curiosity, and belief in their potential.

Giving to Gain

This experience reminded me that sometimes the smallest support can unlock the biggest potential.

These girls already have the curiosity, intelligence, and ambition. What they need are resources, mentorship, and exposure.

By giving our time, knowledge, and opportunities, we help them gain the confidence and skills to shape their future.

And in return, we gain something even more powerful:
the opportunity to witness the next generation of innovators rise.

I left St. Pauls Primary School feeling inspired and hopeful.

The future of technology in Africa is bright, especially when young girls are given the opportunity to explore, learn, and dream bigger.

This is what “Give to Gain” truly means.

My First Month at Zone01: Learning, Building, and Winning

Flovian Atieno — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:13:27 +0000

I recently joined Zone01 as a software developer apprentice, and what a month it has been! From diving into Go programming to tackling both personal and group projects, the learning has been intense but incredibly rewarding.
Over the past month, I’ve completed four projects, honing my technical skills while also exploring project management. I’ve taken the lead on some group projects, applying practices like daily standups, follow-up meetings, and proactive problem solving to keep teams accountable and on track.
The highlight of the month was the Zone01 AI Hackathon, where my team and I won first place
We built an AI-powered decision support agent that helps users evaluate accommodation constraints such as budget, travel time, situational risk, and commute pattern by weighing trade-offs. Our agent is designed to be non-authoritative, avoiding the classification of areas or places to prevent stigmatization. This project aligns with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Leading the team for the first time was an incredible learning experience. Seeing our collaboration and hard work pay off was inspiring, and it strengthened my resolve to pursue future management roles alongside technical growth.
Moving forward, I plan to share my monthly achievements, insights from projects, and reflections on how to excel in the tech ecosystem. The journey has only just begun, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.