Module 1: Version Control and Git Setup

Before memorizing commands, let's understand the problems Git solves. Then we will install Git and create a local practice repository.

What you will learn

• Explain the difference between version control and ordinary file backups.
• Distinguish the working directory, staging area, local repository, and remote repository.
• Install Git and configure your name and email address.
• Create your first local Git repository, often shortened to repo.
• Register a GitHub account for the remote exercises in the next module.

Why do we need version control?

Without version control, a project can quickly end up with files like these:

report.docx
report_latest.docx
report_latest_really_final.docx
report_latest_really_final_2.docx

Copying files does create backups, but it does not answer important questions:

• What exactly changed yesterday?
• Which version works correctly?
• Who changed this line, and why?
• How should changes from two people be combined?

Git saves each confirmed set of changes as a commit. Think of a commit as a project snapshot with a unique ID, an author, and a description.

Copying files manually	Git version control
Versions are identified by file names	Every commit has a unique ID
Changes are difficult to identify	Differences can be compared line by line
Work from multiple people is difficult to combine	Branches and merges support collaboration
Usually restores an entire copied file	Can recover a specific version or file

The four places in Git

The hardest part for many Git beginners is not the commands. It is understanding where a change currently lives.

• Working directory: the folder containing the files you open and edit.
• Staging area: the place where you select changes for the next commit.
• Local repository: the commit history stored on your computer.
• Remote repository: a repository hosted on a service such as GitHub for backup and collaboration.

Remember this path

Edit files → git add → git commit → git push

Step 1: Install Git

Windows

1. Open the official Git download page.
2. Download Git for Windows and run the installer.
3. Beginners can keep the default installation options.
4. When installation finishes, open Git Bash from the Start menu.

macOS

Open Terminal and enter:

git --version

If macOS asks you to install the Command Line Tools, follow the on-screen instructions. You can also choose another installation method from the official Git for macOS page.

Ubuntu / Debian Linux

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

For other Linux distributions, see the official Git for Linux instructions.

Step 2: Verify the installation

In Git Bash or your terminal, enter:

git --version

If you see output like the following, Git is installed. A different version number is normal.

git version 2.x.x

Step 3: Configure your developer identity

Every commit records its author. Replace the example values with your own information:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

Review the configuration:

git config --global --list

Which email address should I use?

If you plan to publish code on GitHub, you can use an email associated with your GitHub account. If privacy matters, you can use the noreply email address provided by GitHub.

Step 4: Create your first local repository

The following commands create a new practice folder and do not touch your existing projects.

mkdir git-practice
cd git-practice
git init -b main

You should see a message similar to Initialized empty Git repository. The folder also contains a hidden .git directory where Git stores its version data.

Create your first file:

echo "My first Git project" > README.md
git status

README.md now appears under Untracked files. The file exists, but Git is not tracking it yet. Leave it in this state for now; Module 4 will guide you through add and commit.

Step 5: Register a GitHub account

Git works without an account, but later exercises will publish a repository to GitHub. Prepare your account now:

1. Go to GitHub and select Sign up.
2. Enter your email address, password, and username.
3. Complete email verification.
4. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to add another layer of account protection.

Quick self-check

Make sure you can answer these questions:

1. Where does git add send your changes?
2. Where does git commit save a version?
3. Does a commit immediately appear on GitHub?

The answers are: the staging area, the local repository, and no—you still need git push.

Command reference

Command	Purpose
git --version	Check whether Git is installed
git config --global --list	Show user-level configuration
git init -b main	Create a Git repository in the current folder
git status	Show the current file and Git status

In the next module, you will create a GitHub repository and connect your local Git repository securely over SSH.