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In this guide, you’ll master the core Git workflows for local development: initializing repositories, configuring identity, staging and committing changes, branching and merging, and cloning from remote hosts like GitHub and Azure Repos. We’ll also explore graphical tools in Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio, and GitHub Desktop.

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1. Configure Your Identity

Before you make any commits, set up your name and email. These values appear in each commit’s metadata. 
git config --global user.name "Jeremy Morgan"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
Use --global to apply settings across all repositories on your machine. To override identity per-repo, omit --global and run the commands inside the repository directory.

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2. Initialize a Git Repository

  1. Create and enter a new project folder: 
    PS C:\Users\jeremy\Projects> mkdir my-project
PS C:\Users\jeremy\Projects> cd my-project
  2. Initialize Git: 
    git init
    Output: 
    Initialized empty Git repository in C:/Users/jeremy/Projects/my-project/.git/
  3. Create a file and check status: 
    echo "Hello Git!" > hello.txt
git status
    You should see hello.txt listed as an untracked file.
  4. Stage and commit: 
    git add hello.txt
git commit -m "Initial commit: add hello.txt"
  5. Review your commit history: 
    git log --oneline --decorate
    Example output: 
    395883b (HEAD -> master) Initial commit: add hello.txt

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Common Git Commands

CommandDescription
git initCreate a new local repository
git statusShow untracked, staged, and modified files
git add <file>Stage changes for the next commit
git commit -m “message”Save staged changes with a commit message
git log —oneline —graphView a condensed, graphical commit history

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3. Branching and Feature Workflows

  1. Create and switch to a new branch: 
    git branch feature/1900
git checkout feature/1900
    Output: 
    Switched to branch 'feature/1900'
  2. Update hello.txt to: 
    Hello Azure Repos!
  3. Stage and commit your change: 
    git status
git add hello.txt
git commit -m "Update greeting for Azure Repos"
The image shows a Visual Studio Code interface with a file named "hello.txt" open, containing the text "Hello".
  1. Visualize the branch history: 
    git log --oneline --graph --decorate --all
    Output: 
    * 7c4495d (HEAD -> feature/1900) Update greeting for Azure Repos
| * 395883b (master) Initial commit: add hello.txt
|/

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4. Merging Changes Back into Master

Switch to master and merge: 
git checkout master
git merge feature/1900
You’ll typically see a fast-forward merge: 
Updating 395883b..7c4495d
Fast-forward
 hello.txt | 1 +
Verify the merged content: 
Get-Content .\hello.txt
# Output: Hello Azure Repos!

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5. Cloning a Remote Repository

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5.1 From GitHub

  1. On GitHub New Repository, create my-cool-project (private), initialize with a README.
The image shows a GitHub interface for creating a new repository, with options to set the repository name, description, visibility, and initialization settings.
  1. Clone via HTTPS: 
    git clone https://github.com/YourUser/my-cool-project.git
  2. Add, commit, and push a file: 
    cd my-cool-project
echo "Hello world" > hello.txt
git add hello.txt
git commit -m "Add hello.txt"
git push origin main
    You’ll now see hello.txt in your GitHub repo.

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5.2 Using Visual Studio Code

Open the cloned folder in VS Code. The Source Control view shows your changes:
The image shows a text editor with a file named "hello.txt" containing the text "Hello world!" and "I have added some stuff today!" It also displays a Git changes panel indicating the file has been modified.

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5.3 Inside Visual Studio

In Visual Studio, use the Git Changes window to stage, commit, and push:
The image shows a Visual Studio interface with a Git Changes panel open, displaying a commit with the message "Added stuff" and a list of changed files.

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5.4 Cloning from Azure Repos

PS C:\Users\jeremy\Projects> mkdir azure-test
PS C:\Users\jeremy\Projects> cd azure-test
PS C:\Users\jeremy\Projects\azure-test> git clone https://KodeKloudDemo@dev.azure.com/KodeKloudDemo/KodeKloud%20Hotel/_git/SmartHotel360

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6. GUI Client: GitHub Desktop

GitHub Desktop provides an intuitive interface for cloning, committing, and pushing. After installing and signing in, configure your identity:
The image shows a Git configuration screen where a user can choose to use their GitHub account name and email or configure them manually. It includes fields for name and email, with a space-themed illustration on the right.
Clone your repo and open it in VS Code. When prompted:
The image shows a Visual Studio Code window with a prompt asking if the user trusts the authors of the files in a specific folder. The background also displays a GitHub authorization page in a browser.
Only trust workspaces you recognize. Untrusted code can run arbitrary scripts on your machine.

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Summary

You now know how to:
  • Configure Git identity
  • Initialize, stage, and commit a repository
  • Create, switch, and merge branches
  • Clone and contribute to remote repositories
  • Use GUI tools like VS Code, Visual Studio, and GitHub Desktop
With these skills, you’re ready to collaborate efficiently across any Git-based project.

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References

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