Contents for (and related to) the GDG NIT Surat's Open Source workshop.

###What is Git? In strict terms, Git is a "distributed version control system". In simpler terms, Git is a "source code management system". It allows a team/group to collaborate on projects, work and the same pieces of code. More importantly, it helps them avoid the confusion which would normally arise with multiple people editing the same files simultaneously. You will get the gist of it in time with experience. This git tutorial is aimed at getting you started with the basics. You aren't expected, or required, to understand the details all at once. But you are expected to follow along. And ideally, experiment with and read up about git once you'r done here.

###Join Github

Github IS NOT git! More about that and what github is later. Create your github account for now: https://github.com/join

###Setting up git

If on Windows, you can use the git command prompt as well as the git for windows GUI (Graphical User Interface). The choice is upto you but the command line method is recommended. Check out the following link for more: Installing on Windows

If on Linux, use the terminal. Install/upgrade git on your system.

# Install git (on Ubuntu)
sudo apt-get install git
# Install git (on Fedora)
sudo yum install git

Further instructions assume that the user is using the command line method.

###Cloning a repository

The git clone command does exactly what it sounds like. It lets you create a copy (clone) of an existing git repository. For starters, clone this very repository on your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/gdgsurat/open_source_workshop.git

Check the contents to make sure it worked:

cd open_source_workshop
ls

###Checking status and Making changes

Check the current status of the git repository you just cloned:

git status

Nothing to be done as of now.

Open the tutorial markdown file using an editor of your choice. To open it via terminal in an editor like gedit:

gedit README.md

Make some changes in the README file and save it. Anything at all!

Now, check the status of the repository again. It should show a message something like this:

Changes to be committed:
README.md

Now we head to the most awaited parts. Drumrolls

###Adding and Committing changes

You have made the changes. Now you need to share them. But how do you do that? A commit is like taking the snapshot of a git repository's contents at a particular moment and storing them. In the background, git only stores the changes made since the last commit. That's what the earlier status message had hinted at.

But first you will have to add the pending changes to the git's staging area. For now, just do this without bothering about the details. (Read reference [] for more)

git add .

(Don't forget the dot used in the above command after add.)

Okay then, time to make the commit:

git commit -m "First local commit"

The snapshots are always committed to the local repository. That brings us to yet another important aspect of git.

###Collaborating with Git

Up until now, we had been working locally on the clone we had made. Now, we will briefly explore Git's collaboration model which has made it so very popular amongst the developer community.

###Managing remote connections

When we had cloned this repository locally, a link had been established automatically between our local copy and the github repository. To see it for yourself,

git remote -v

git remote lets us manage remote connections. As you can see, the local copy is linked to the repo on github.

###Creating a new github repository

On your github page, go to the Repositories tab and click on the green New button to create a new repository. Choose a name and use the default settings. Click on the green Create Repository button at the bottom. Voila! You have a new github repository now.

##Linking to a remote and pushing changes

On this new repository's home page, you will find a link. Copy this (HTTPS) link.

Now, go to your local repository. The git remote command used previously can be used to add new remote connections as well. Link your local copy to the new created github repository,

git remote add local_to_github <insert the copied link>

Here, local_to_github is the name we have given to the remote connection. You can see it listed among the remote connections:

git remote -v

We had earlier made and committed some changes to this local copy of ours. We are now going to use the git push command to push these changes to our newly created github repository.

git push -u local_to_github master

You will be asked for your github account details. Fill them up. Congrats, you just made your first commit on github!