**Course Title:** Ruby Programming: From Basics to Advanced Techniques **Section Title:** Deployment and Best Practices **Topic:** Introduction to version control with Git **Introduction** As we progress through the course, we'll be working on complex projects that require collaboration and version control. In this topic, we'll introduce you to Git, a powerful version control system that helps you manage changes to your codebase. Git is widely used in the software development industry, and understanding its basics will make you a more efficient and effective developer. **What is Git?** Git is a distributed version control system that allows you to track changes to your codebase over time. It's a free, open-source tool that's widely used in the software development industry. Git is designed to be highly flexible and scalable, making it suitable for small projects and large enterprises alike. **Key Concepts** Before we dive into the details, let's cover some key concepts: * **Repository (Repo):** A central location where all the files and history of your project are stored. * **Local repository:** A copy of the repository on your local machine. * **Remote repository:** A copy of the repository hosted on a remote server. * **Branch:** A separate line of development in your repository. * **Commit:** A snapshot of your code at a particular point in time. * **Merge:** The process of combining changes from two or more branches. **Setting up Git** To get started with Git, you'll need to install it on your machine. You can download the latest version of Git from the official website: <https://git-scm.com/downloads> Once you've installed Git, you'll need to create a new repository and link it to your local machine. You can do this using the following commands: * `git init`: Initializes a new local repository. * `git remote add origin <repository_url>`: Links your local repository to a remote repository. **Basic Git Commands** Here are some basic Git commands to get you started: * `git add <file>`: Stages a file for the next commit. * `git commit -m "<message>"`: Commits changes with a meaningful message. * `git log`: Displays a log of all commits made to the repository. * `git branch <branch_name>`: Creates a new branch. * `git checkout <branch_name>`: Switches to a different branch. **Best Practices** Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using Git: * **Use meaningful commit messages:** Keep your commit messages concise and descriptive. * **Use branches:** Branches help you isolate changes and make it easier to merge them later. * **Use pull requests:** Pull requests allow you to review changes made by others before merging them into the main branch. * **Use Git hooks:** Git hooks allow you to automate tasks and enforce best practices. **Practical Takeaways** Here are some practical takeaways to help you apply Git in your daily work: * **Use Git to track changes:** Use Git to track changes made to your codebase over time. * **Use branches to isolate changes:** Use branches to isolate changes and make it easier to merge them later. * **Use pull requests to review changes:** Use pull requests to review changes made by others before merging them into the main branch. * **Use Git hooks to automate tasks:** Use Git hooks to automate tasks and enforce best practices. **Conclusion** In this topic, we've introduced you to Git, a powerful version control system that helps you manage changes to your codebase. We've covered key concepts, basic Git commands, and best practices to help you get started with Git. Remember to use Git to track changes, isolate changes using branches, review changes using pull requests, and automate tasks using Git hooks. **Leave a comment or ask for help:** If you have any questions or need further clarification on any of the topics covered in this topic, please leave a comment below.