Getting Started with Git and Github

by Ryan Irelan

If you’re looking into implementing version control (what’s version control? A Visual Guide to Version Control) in your workflow, there are a few options out there. A popular and solid choice is Subversion (SVN), a free system that has one main repository on a centrally located server. It’s a great system and I use it for some of my personal projects and it’s our version control system for Airbag projects. Last summer I wrote about Subversion, and how it can improve how you collaborate on project, for A List Apart magazine.

A newer player is Git, a free and distributed version control system that doesn’t require a centrally located repository since the entire history of revisions are stored with each local copy. If you’re new to using version control, Git may be a great place to start. It’s easy to install on OS X, Windows or Linux and, if you need it, there’s a great repository hosting service called GitHub (you can find me and some of my EE add-ons on GitHub, too).

I’ve compiled a special EE Insider list of resources that will be helpful in learning more about Git and implementing it into your development workflow.

The Basics

• Git homepage
• Version Control for Designers (great resource for those new to Git and version control)
• Git for the Lazy

Installing Git

• Getting Started with Git and GitHub on Windows
• Get git on Mac

Digging In

• Git User’s Manual
• Git Magic (one of my personal favorite resources)
• Pragmatic Version Control Using Git
• How to Use Git for Personal Development When Everyone Else is Using Subversion
• Git - SVN Crash Course
• Version Control with Git
• 37Signals Git Resources

GitHub

• GitHub Guides
• Insider Guide to GitHub (Screencasts from PragProg.com)

Feel free to share any Git resources you may have bookmarked!