Git / GitHub
Git is a version control system for tracking code changes. GitHub and GitLab are platforms for collaborative development with code review and CI/CD.
Git is the foundation of modern software development. Over 90% of developers worldwide use Git for version control. It lets teams work on the same code in parallel, track changes and revert when needed. GitHub, GitLab and Bitbucket add collaboration: pull requests, code reviews and CI/CD pipelines.
What is Git / GitHub?
Git is a distributed version control system (DVCS) created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds. Every developer has a full copy of the repo and history. Changes are stored in commits, each a snapshot of the project. Branches allow parallel work (features, bugfixes) without stepping on each other. GitHub (Microsoft) and GitLab host Git repos and add pull/merge requests for review, issues for tracking, Actions/Pipelines for CI/CD and wikis.
How does Git / GitHub work?
Typical Git workflow: 1) Clone/init: create or clone a repo. 2) Branch: create a branch for a feature or fix (e.g. git checkout -b feature/login). 3) Commit: record changes in logical units with clear messages. 4) Push: send commits to the remote (GitHub/GitLab). 5) Pull request: teammates review and comment. 6) Merge: after approval the branch is merged into main. 7) CI/CD: tests and deployment run on each merge. Git uses SHA-1 hashes for every commit, securing history integrity.
Practical Examples
Feature-branch workflow: Each feature lives in its own branch, is reviewed via pull request and merged into main after approval.
Gitflow: Structured workflow with develop, release, hotfix and feature branches – common in enterprises with fixed release cycles.
GitHub Actions CI/CD: On every push, tests and lint run; merging to main triggers deployment.
Inner source: Large companies use GitLab internally for open-source-style collaboration across teams.
Typical Use Cases
Version control: Track all code changes with full history and rollback
Team collaboration: Parallel work on different features without conflicts
Code review: Structured review for quality and knowledge sharing
CI/CD: Automated build, test and deploy on code changes
Open source: GitHub is the central platform for open-source projects
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Full history: Every change is traceable and reversible
- Parallel work: Branches allow feature development without interference
- Distributed: Every developer has a full copy – works offline too
- Quality: Pull requests and reviews improve code systematically
- Ecosystem: GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, integrations with Jira, Slack and more
Disadvantages
- Learning curve: Concepts like rebase, cherry-pick and merge conflicts take time
- Merge conflicts: When several people change the same code, conflicts must be resolved
- Large files: Git is for text/code – large binaries need Git LFS
- Messy history: Without conventions (e.g. Conventional Commits) history gets unclear
Frequently Asked Questions about Git / GitHub
GitHub or GitLab?
Git merge or rebase?
Do I need Git as a solo developer?
Related Terms
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