Introduction to Version Control
What is Version Control?
Version control is a critical system in software development that tracks and manages changes to source code over time. It enables developers to record project history, collaborate effectively, and maintain multiple versions of software simultaneously.
Core Concepts of Version Control
Version control systems (VCS) provide several key functionalities:
Feature |
Description |
Tracking Changes |
Record modifications to source code |
Collaboration |
Multiple developers can work simultaneously |
Branching |
Create independent development lines |
Rollback |
Revert to previous code versions |
Version Control Workflow
graph TD
A[Write Code] --> B[Stage Changes]
B --> C[Commit Changes]
C --> D{Collaborate?}
D -->|Yes| E[Push to Remote Repository]
D -->|No| F[Continue Development]
Example: Basic Version Control Commands
Ubuntu 22.04 terminal demonstration of git version control:
## Initialize a new git repository
git init my-project
cd my-project
## Configure user identity
git config --global user.name "Developer Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
## Stage and commit changes
git add README.md
git commit -m "Initial project setup"
These commands illustrate fundamental source code management techniques essential for software development lifecycle and collaborative coding.