Learn the basics of Git in 60 free succinct pages

I have read the free e-Book “Git Succinctly” by Ryan Hodson and would like to share my thoughts about it. I will also mention a few follow up resources for the next steps when you learned the basics of Git.

Background

As most software developer consultants, I have experienced a wide range of version control systems like ClearCase, SourceSafe, CVS, Mercurial, Subversion etc. Lately, I have been involved in more in-house project than usual and we mostly use Git.

Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. It is easy to learn and has a tiny footprint with lightning fast performance. It outclasses SCM tools like Subversion, CVS, Perforce, and ClearCase with features like cheap local branching, convenient staging areas, and multiple workflows.
git-scm.com

It is not always easy to find time for learning new things, at least not everything you want to learn. Git has been one of those topics for me. I have used the Git Extensions toolkit and mostly been fine with that without exactly knowing what happens behind the scenes. Believe me, I have lot of colleagues that love command prompts and to help out in a Git chaos situation, but it is of course best to have the knowledge on your own.

This lead me to search for a good resource for learning the basics of Git, and I found it in a free e-Book.

Syncfusion Succinctly e-Book Series

The goal of the Succinctly book series is to produce concise technical books targeted at developers working on the Microsoft platform.Syncfusion is a provider of software components for the Microsoft platform. You have probably heard about their control toolkits (for ASP.NET, ASP.NET MVC, JavaScript, Mobile MVC, Silverlight, Windows Forms, Windows Phone, WinRT, WPF) and the free Metro Studio 2.

The goal of the Succinctly book series is to produce concise technical books targeted at developers working on the Microsoft platform. The series currently consist of 22 books and you can download all of them for free at syncfusion.com.

Git Succinctly by Ryan Hodson

Download

Table of Contents
  • Overview
  • Getting Started
  • Recording Changes
  • Undoing Changes
  • Branches
  • Remote Repositories
syncf7Git Succinctly will teach you
  • How to install and configure Git
  • How to create and clone repositories
  • How to use the staging area to organize and manage your commits
  • How to create, manage, and merge branches
  • How to interact with remote repositories
Meta
  • Pages: 60
  • Published: 2012
  • Format: PDF or Kindle
  • Interview with Ryan Hodson: youtube

My reading notes

Git Succinctly by Ryan Hodson describes the basics of Git in a clear and concise manner helping you to focus on the important details. It has easy to understand graphic figures supporting the text and I had no problem relating the command-line examples with my previous experience with the Git Extensions toolkit. It did not take long time to finish reading the 60 pages and it has already helped me with understanding some Git topics in my current project.

I really like the Succinctly concept with short and to the point texts targeted at developers with valuable info from page one.

Next step

It is easier to understand documentation and more advanced areas when you secured the basics of a topic in a pedagogic way. Git-scm.com can provide you with resources for your next Git steps in the form of a book, the documentation, a cheat sheet and an interactive simulator.

References

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