freeCodeCamp.org on YouTube · Open on YouTube
Foundations: programming and problem solving · Novice · Lesson 13 of 98 · 1 h 21 min video, then about 6 hours of practice
Git and GitHub for your own work
After this you can track your work with commits, push it to GitHub, and undo a mistake without losing work.
Why it matters
Version control is not optional and not a later skill. From this point, every exercise and project goes in a git repository with meaningful commits. It is your safety net, your record of progress, and later your portfolio. Learn the everyday loop: `status`, `add`, `commit`, `push`, `pull`, plus branches and how to recover from mistakes. Write commit messages that say why, not just what. Trap: committing secrets or giant folders like `node_modules`. Set up a `.gitignore` from the first commit.
How to use this resource
Current and complete for beginners. Follow along in your own repository.