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The Git Lifecycle

Understanding the Git Lifecycle​

Git is a distributed version control system that allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously. It keeps track of changes made to the project and allows you to revert back to any previous state.

The Git workflow is built around the Git lifecycle. Understanding this lifecycle is fundamental to using Git effectively. Let's delve into the Git lifecycle and its four main stages: Untracked, Modified, Staged, and Committed.

Untracked Files​

When a file is first created in the repository, Git categorizes it as an untracked file. This means that Git doesn't keep track of any changes made to the file. To make Git track the file, you need to add it to the Git index using the git add command.

git add <filename>

Modified Files​

Once a file is being tracked, Git considers changes to that file as modifications. If you edit a tracked file, Git will mark it as modified, but the changes won't be saved in your repository until you commit them.

To check the state of your files, you can use the git status command. This will show you which files are tracked, which files have been modified, and which files are staged for commit.

git status

Staged Files​

Staging is the step before the file gets committed. When you stage a file, you are preparing it to be committed to your repository. To stage a file, you use the git add command. This time, instead of just starting to track the file, Git will mark the file (and its changes) to be included in the next commit.

git add <filename>

Committed Files​

A commit is the final stage in the Git lifecycle. When you commit a file, you are saving it to your repository. This is like taking a snapshot of your project at its current state. To commit files, you use the git commit command.

git commit -m "Commit message"

The -m flag allows you to add a message to your commit. This message should be a brief description of the changes you made.

That's a brief overview of the Git lifecycle. By understanding these stages, you can effectively manage your project's version history. Remember, Git is a powerful tool that can save you a lot of time and effort if used correctly. Happy coding!