Git Essentials: Push, Pull, Track Changes, and Master Version Control

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in code, enables collaboration, and supports safe experimentation. This beginner guide explains the essentials in plain words: tracking changes, pushing to remotes, pulling updates, and the basics of version control.
​Core Concepts of Version Control with Git
​Version control creates a record of snapshots for your project over time. A repository is a directory containing a hidden folder that stores this history. Each commit forms a snapshot of your changes, complete with a unique identifier, a descriptive message, and metadata like the author and timestamp.
​Your files live in the working directory. You move changes to a staging area to prepare them, then commit them to the local repository for permanent storage. Branches act as pointers to specific commits, allowing parallel lines of development without affecting the main codebase. Git works locally by default, with remote repositories like those on GitHub serving as shared backups.
​Tracking Changes Locally
​To track changes, first check the status of your files to see what has been modified, added, or is untracked. Select specific files or all changes to stage them for the next step. Then create a commit with a clear message describing what you did.
​View your project's history as a chronological list of commits, each with its identifier and details. To revisit a previous state, check out a specific commit. For undoing, reset to discard recent commits or revert them to create a new commit that undoes the changes.
​Branches let you work independently. Create a new one from your current position, switch between them easily, and merge one into another when ready. This keeps experimental work separate from the stable main branch.
​Pushing Code to a Remote Repository
​Pushing sends your local commits to a remote repository. First, link your local repo to the remote using its web address. Then push your branch, which uploads the entire history of commits in that branch. The first push often sets up tracking, so future pushes require less typing. This makes your work visible and accessible to others online.
​Pulling Changes from Remote
​Pulling brings updates from the remote into your local repository. It downloads the latest changes and merges them with your local branch. For caution, first fetch the remote data without merging, then manually integrate it.
​If conflicts arise—where both you and the remote changed the same lines—Git marks the files. Edit to resolve, stage the fixes, and commit.
​Standard Workflow
​Clone a remote repository to copy it locally.
​Create a new branch for your feature.
​Make edits, stage, and commit them.
​Push the branch to the remote.
​Before updating the main branch, always pull the latest changes to stay synchronized.
​Key Benefits and Tips
​Use a .gitignore file to exclude temporary or large files from tracking.
​Stash unfinished changes temporarily to switch branches cleanly.
​Always pull before pushing to prevent history mismatches.
​Version control with Git ensures every change is recorded, reversible, and shareable, forming the foundation of professional development.