**Course Title:** Ruby Programming: From Basics to Advanced Techniques **Section Title:** Deployment and Best Practices **Topic:** Introduction to version control with Git **Introduction** In this topic, we will explore the world of version control with Git, an essential tool for any software developer. Version control allows you to track changes to your codebase over time, collaborate with others, and manage different versions of your project. Git is the most widely used version control system in the world, and understanding how to use it will greatly benefit your development career. **What is Git?** Git is a free and open-source version control system that allows you to track changes to your codebase by creating snapshots of your files at different points in time. Git is decentralized, meaning that every developer working on a project has a full copy of the project's history, allowing for easier collaboration and less overhead. **History of Git** Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 as a version control system for the Linux kernel. Since then, Git has become the most widely used version control system in the world, used by millions of developers and thousands of companies. **Git Terminology** Here are some key terms to understand when using Git: * **Repository (repo):** a central location where all the files, history, and versions of a project are stored. * **Commit:** a snapshot of your files at a particular point in time. * **Branch:** a separate line of development in a repository, used to work on a specific feature or bug fix without affecting the main codebase. * **Merge:** combining changes from one branch into another. * **Pull:** retrieving changes from a remote repository and merging them into your local repository. * **Push:** pushing changes from your local repository to a remote repository. **Setting Up Git** To get started with Git, you need to have it installed on your computer. Here are the steps: 1. **Download the Git installer** from the official Git website: [https://git-scm.com/downloads](https://git-scm.com/downloads) 2. **Install Git** on your computer by running the installer and following the instructions. 3. **Open the terminal** or command prompt and type `git --version` to verify that Git is installed correctly. **Basic Git Commands** Here are some basic Git commands to get you started: * `git init`: initializes a new Git repository in the current directory. * `git add <file>`: adds a file to the staging area. * `git add .`: adds all files in the current directory to the staging area. * `git commit -m "<message>"`: creates a new commit with the specified message. * `git log`: displays a log of all commits made to the repository. * `git branch`: lists all branches in the repository. * `git checkout <branch>`: switches to a specific branch. * `git merge <branch>`: merges changes from one branch into another. **Best Practices for Git** Here are some best practices to keep in mind when using Git: * **Use descriptive commit messages**: when creating a new commit, make sure to use a descriptive message that explains what changes you made. * **Use branches**: create a new branch for each feature or bug fix to keep your codebase organized and make it easier to merge changes. * **Use pull requests**: when collaborating with others, use pull requests to review and discuss changes before merging them into the main codebase. **Conclusion** In this topic, we introduced the basics of version control with Git, including its history, terminology, and basic commands. We also covered best practices for using Git to manage your codebase. With practice and experience, you'll become proficient in using Git to manage your projects and collaborate with others. **Additional Resources** * **Git documentation**: [https://git-scm.com/docs](https://git-scm.com/docs) * **Git tutorial**: [https://try.github.io/](https://try.github.io/) * **GitHub**: [https://github.com/](https://github.com/) **Leave a Comment/Ask for Help** If you have any questions or need help with Git, feel free to leave a comment below. We'll do our best to assist you. **Next Topic: Project Presentations: Sharing Final Projects and Code Walkthroughs** In the next topic, we'll cover how to present your final project and walk through your code. This is an opportunity to showcase your skills and receive feedback from your peers. Please let me know if I can add anything to this response as per your requirement.