Git is a version control system — it helps you save, track, and manage changes in your code.

GitHub is a cloud service where you can upload your Git projects and collaborate with others.

Let's learn the basics!

📦 Step 1: Install Git

  • Download Git: git-scm.com
  • Install it with default settings.

🗂️ Step 2: Basic Git Commands

Command What it does Example
git init Start a new Git project in your folder. git init
git clone Copy a project from GitHub to your computer. git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git
git add Stage (save) files to be committed. git add . (add all files)
git commit Save a snapshot of your staged files. git commit -m "Your message"
git status Check the status of your project. git status
git push Send your code to GitHub. git push origin main
git pull Get the latest changes from GitHub. git pull origin main
git remote Manage connections to GitHub repositories. git remote add origin URL
git branch List or create branches. git branch / git branch new-branch
git checkout Switch between branches. git checkout branch-name
git diff See the changes you made compared to the last commit. git diff
git merge Merge changes from one branch into another. git merge branch-name
cd .. Move up one folder in your terminal. cd ..

🚀 Step 3: Common Git Workflow

Here’s a typical workflow you might follow:

  1. Clone the project (if it already exists): 
git clone https://github.com/username/project.git
   cd project
  1. Create a new project (if starting fresh): 
mkdir project
   cd project
   git init

  1. Make some changes (edit files, create code).

  2. See what changed:

git status
  1. Stage the changes: 
git add .
  1. Commit the changes: 
git commit -m "Initial commit"

  1. Push the code to GitHub:

    • First, connect your GitHub repository: 
     git remote add origin https://github.com/username/project.git

  • Then push:

     git push origin main

  1. Working with branches:

    • Create a new branch: 
     git branch new-feature

  • Switch to it:

     git checkout new-feature

  • Merge it later:

     git checkout main
 git merge new-feature
  1. Pull latest changes from GitHub: 
git pull origin main

  1. See differences:

    git diff

🎯 Important Notes

  • git init is for new projects.
  • git clone is for existing projects.
  • Always use git add and git commit to save changes locally.
  • Use git push to upload your commits to GitHub.
  • Use git pull to download new changes from GitHub.
  • Branches help you work on new features without messing up your main project.

✨ Bonus Tip

🔒 Always commit meaningful messages like:

git commit -m "Add login form UI"

instead of:

git commit -m "stuff"

Would you also like me to create a cheat sheet image 📄 you can save for quick reference?

Let me know! 🚀