Git
Git is a DevOps tool that enables managing and tracking changes in a codebase. It's a distributed version control system used to collaborate on code, share code changes, and track codebase versions.
Git is a powerful tool widely used in the developer community, as it gives developers a comprehensive look at the change history of the codebase. They can see who made changes, when, and why, making keeping track of the changes easier. This also facilitates collaboration – members of the development team can work on different features or bug fixes at the same time without interrupting each other. They can also review each other's code, propose changes, and eventually merge them into a single codebase. Git is also fairly flexible and easily adaptable to various needs, regardless of the workflows and project's or organisation's requirements. When working with complex projects, developers can use branching and merging. Developers can easily integrate Git with other tools (e.g. CI, CD) to automate build, test, and deployment processes. And if a developer needs to work offline, they can do so without trouble. All they have to do is create a copy of the code repository on their local device and later push the changes back to the remote repository once they have an internet connection. So developers can work on code anywhere, any time, on any platform. Finally, Git offers an array of security features, such as access controls, authentication, and encryption, to protect the codebase and guarantee data integrity.
How to use Git efficiently? First things first: write concise but descriptive commit messages (e.g. by adhering to the rules of Conventional Commits) when you make changes to the code so that other team members can understand why you made them and keep track of them. You should also take advantage of Git branches and isolate changes when working on new features or bug fixes. This way, you won't affect the main codebase. And remember to pull the most recent changes from the remote repository before you push your changes. If you do that, you'll avoid many possible conflicts with other developers while keeping your codebase up-to-date.
There are also certain things you shouldn't do. It's important to remember that Git is not designed to manage large files, such as media or binary files. So you shouldn't commit large files to the code repository since they can slow down the system and make managing the codebase difficult. This should also go without saying, but you shouldn't commit incomplete or broken code to the remote repository. The work becomes difficult for other developers, leading to errors in the codebase. You should also refrain from using the "force push" command and overwrite the remote repository with your changes unless you are absolutely sure what you are doing, e.g. while reverting some commits or rebasing. It can generate conflicts in your codebase as you may overwrite other developers' changes. So instead of using "force push", try using Git's merge or rebase commands.
Git is an effective tool for handling and tracking changes to codebases, teaming up on projects, and securing software application quality and stability.
