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Jason Taylor

Git Going Fast: One Hour Crash Course

Students can expect to learn the minimum needed to start using Git in less than an hour.

Recent Course Updates

  • October 17th: Added Updates and Errata section

Course Introduction and Overview provides an introduction to this course and the Git source control system. Key concepts and the basic workflow are discussed.

Setup and Configuration provides step-by-step instructions on how to setup Git for Windows and Mac OS X, how to use Git's help command, and how to setup the minimum required configuration to start using Git.

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Git Going Fast: One Hour Crash Course

Students can expect to learn the minimum needed to start using Git in less than an hour.

Recent Course Updates

  • October 17th: Added Updates and Errata section

Course Introduction and Overview provides an introduction to this course and the Git source control system. Key concepts and the basic workflow are discussed.

Setup and Configuration provides step-by-step instructions on how to setup Git for Windows and Mac OS X, how to use Git's help command, and how to setup the minimum required configuration to start using Git.

We also cover how to exclude the wrong files from accidentally being committed and how to review your repository's history.

Going Remote covers publishing the locally created repository (previous section) on GitHub. Starting off by setting up SSH authentication, creating the remote version of our repository, linking the local repository with the remote version on GitHub, and finally sending our changes up to remote repository.

Presentations provide audio/video training of conceptual ideas. Since few like slide-ware presentations, slide-presentations are kept to a minimum.

Screencasts provide a video of the instructor's computer system with any actions, commands, or screens displayed and narrated. There is a total of 56 minutes of video based training in this course (Presentation + Screencasts, excluding Promo Video).

Each Command Listing includes the exact listings used in the previous lectures and a reference guide for newly introduced commands. All commands used in this course are available through the Command Listing lectures.

The instructor is available for simple questions by email and can provide customized paid instruction upon request go the the author's profile for contact.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn the key concepts of the git source control system
  • Step through the entire basic git workflow
  • Configure ssh for authentication
  • Create and use a remote repository on github

Syllabus

Course Introduction and Overview
Promo Video

Introduction to Git Going Fast

This lecture goes over the course goals, course overview, assumptions/requirements for the course, and enumerates why this course is focused on the command line Git interface.

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Git Key Concepts

Provides an overview of Git's primary or key concepts including the distributed nature of Git, versioning approach, branching, and how repositories work.

Git Workflow

Shows all the major steps in the basic Git workflow -- from working with local files to sending changes to a remote server.

This quiz tests the initial overview and key concepts for Git.

Git Setup Information

Overview of the Git setup process.

Git Help

How to get help using Git's help command.

Git Configuration

How to setup Git with the basic information needed (user name and email) before working with repositories.

This quiz tests the main concepts related to setup and configuration.

Starting Fresh

Step by step instructions on how to use Git's init command to create a project from scratch that will be managed by Git source control.

Starting with an Existing Project

Step by step instructions on how to use Git's init command to place an existing project under Git version control.

The First Commit

The lecture steps users through the process after initializing the project all the way to making the first commit with Git.

Working Locally: Part One

This lecture picks up after the first commit and repeats the edit/stage/commit process (reinforcement) and teaching a new trick along the way.

Working Locally: Part Two

This lecture picks up after Working Locally Part One by continuing to teach new tricks through the edit/stage/commit process.

Gitting Historical

Explore Git's log command to display your repository's history, learn about various options log provides, and end with a condensed, but useful view of history.

Removing Files

This lecture steps through two ways to delete files -- with Git and outside of Git.

Moving Files

Step-by-step process on how to move files (also used to rename files) using Git.

Ignoring Files

Now that we are proficient in adding files to Git, this lecture covers how to exclude the wrong files from Git.

Quiz test basic concepts when using Git locally.

Setting Up SSH Authentication

With the local concepts behind us, it's time to prepare to go remote. This lecture walks through the steps needed to configure your system to use SSH authentication needed in the next video lecture.

GitHub recently changed the default branch name from "master" to "main" - which impacts the rest of this course.

Collaborating with Others -- Git Remotes and GitHub

Working locally is fine, but the real power of Git is when we start working with others. This lecture covers how to setup and use a remote repository with GitHub -- which includes linking our existing local repository with GitHub.

Quiz test skills learned in the Going Remote section of this course.

Parting Words

The course instructional conclusion.

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Career center

Learners who complete Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Software Developer
This course provides a fundamental introduction to the essential version control system for any aspiring Software Developer. Software Developers create, maintain, and improve computer programs and systems. They constantly write and modify code, making version control indispensable for tracking changes, collaborating with teams, and managing different code versions effectively. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" introduces Git's core concepts, basic workflow, and practical operations like initializing repositories, making commits, and managing files locally. Crucially, it also covers publishing locally created repositories to GitHub and setting up SSH authentication, which are vital skills for collaboration in nearly all modern software development environments.
Web Developer
A Web Developer builds and maintains websites and web applications, working with code for both design and functionality. For any Web Developer, from frontend to backend to full stack, version control with Git is a daily necessity for managing source code, collaborating with designers and other developers, and deploying changes reliably. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" offers the foundational knowledge required to navigate Git's distributed nature and workflow. Learners will gain practical experience in setting up Git, managing local repositories, tracking file changes, and importantly, connecting to remote repositories on platforms like GitHub using SSH. This enables them to effectively contribute to shared projects and manage their code iterations.
Frontend Developer
Frontend Developers build the user-facing parts of websites and applications, working with languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. For a Frontend Developer, proficiency with Git is a daily necessity for managing project code, collaborating with design and backend teams, and tracking iterative changes to the user interface. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" offers a solid starting point, covering Git's distributed nature, key concepts, and basic workflow. Learners will acquire practical skills in setting up Git, performing local repository operations, and connecting to GitHub using SSH, which are foundational for contributing to modern web projects and managing the evolution of user experiences effectively.
Backend Developer
Backend Developers focus on the server-side logic and databases that power applications, writing code in languages such as Python, Java, or Node.js. For a Backend Developer, Git is a fundamental tool for versioning server-side code, managing API implementations, and collaborating with other developers on complex systems. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" provides essential knowledge of the Git source control system, detailing its key concepts, basic workflow, and practical command-line operations. The course also covers publishing local repositories to GitHub and configuring SSH authentication, which are vital for integrating code contributions and maintaining robust, scalable backend services in a team environment.
Mobile Application Developer
Mobile Application Developers create software for smartphones and tablets across various platforms. For a Mobile Application Developer, Git is an essential tool for managing the codebase of their applications, collaborating with teams, and keeping track of different versions and features. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" provides a comprehensive introduction to the Git source control system, covering its core concepts, basic workflow, and practical command-line operations. Learners will gain experience in setting up Git, managing local repositories, tracking file changes, and connecting to remote repositories on GitHub using SSH, which are all fundamental for modern mobile app development.
DevOps Engineer
A DevOps Engineer bridges development and operations, automating software delivery and infrastructure management. Git is absolutely central to a DevOps Engineer's toolkit, serving as the backbone for continuous integration, continuous delivery, and infrastructure as code practices. This crash course provides the essential Git knowledge needed to begin understanding and interacting with version-controlled systems. It covers key concepts, the basic Git workflow, and how to manage repositories locally and connect them to remote platforms such as GitHub, including SSH authentication. These foundational skills are critical for automating deployments, tracking configuration changes, and ensuring the smooth flow of code from development to production environments.
Site Reliability Engineer
Site Reliability Engineers ensure the reliability, performance, and scalability of software systems, often managing infrastructure as code and automating operational tasks. For a Site Reliability Engineer, Git is an indispensable tool for versioning infrastructure configurations, deployment scripts, monitoring tools, and application code. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" provides the essential groundwork in Git, covering its foundational concepts, basic workflow, and practical steps for managing local repositories. Critically, it also teaches how to set up SSH authentication and publish changes to remote repositories on GitHub, which are core requirements for collaborative infrastructure management and maintaining system stability.
Infrastructure Engineer
Infrastructure Engineers design, build, and maintain the underlying systems and networks that support software applications, increasingly through "Infrastructure as Code" (IaC). For an Infrastructure Engineer, Git is indispensable for versioning IaC configurations, automation scripts, and deployment pipelines, enabling collaborative development and reliable rollbacks. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" provides a foundational understanding of Git's key concepts, basic workflow, and practical command-line operations. Learning how to manage local repositories and publish changes to GitHub with SSH authentication is crucial for maintaining version-controlled infrastructure, ensuring consistency, and effectively collaborating on system architecture.
Cloud Engineer
Cloud Engineers design, deploy, and manage applications and infrastructure on cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. A core aspect of this role involves using "Infrastructure as Code" and automating deployments, making Git a critical tool. For a Cloud Engineer, this course provides the essential Git knowledge needed to version cloud configurations, deployment scripts, and application code. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" covers key Git concepts, its basic workflow, and practical steps for managing local repositories. Furthermore, it teaches how to publish changes to GitHub and configure SSH, which are vital for collaborative cloud resource management and ensuring scalable, reliable cloud operations.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists analyze complex datasets to extract insights and build predictive models, often writing significant amounts of code for data cleaning, analysis, and model development. While traditionally seen as less code-intensive, modern data science increasingly requires robust version control for code, Jupyter notebooks, data transformation scripts, and even model versions. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" introduces the fundamental principles of Git, including its distributed nature and basic workflow. Learners will understand how to initialize repositories, commit changes, manage files, and publish their work to GitHub, which is crucial for collaborating on projects, reproducing results, and deploying data science solutions reliably.
Game Developer
Game Developers create and program video games, a process that involves managing vast amounts of code, art assets, and design files. For a Game Developer, especially those working on the programming side, Git is crucial for versioning source code, collaborating within a development team, and maintaining different iterations of game features. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" introduces the core concepts of the Git source control system and its basic workflow. Learners will understand how to initialize new projects, track changes, manage files locally, and connect their work to remote repositories on GitHub, providing a foundational skill set for organized game development.
Quality Assurance Engineer
A Quality Assurance Engineer ensures software quality through testing, often developing and maintaining automated test scripts and frameworks. For a Quality Assurance Engineer, version control is vital for managing test cases, test automation code, configuration files, and reporting tools. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" provides a practical introduction to the Git source control system, teaching how to manage code changes, track history, and collaborate on testing efforts. The course covers setting up Git, using its core commands for local operations, and pushing changes to a remote repository on GitHub, enabling organized and collaborative test development and maintenance.
Release Manager
A Release Manager oversees the planning, scheduling, and control of software builds and releases. Although not typically writing code daily, a Release Manager must have a solid understanding of the version control system, such as Git, that underpins the entire release process. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" may be helpful by providing a foundational understanding of Git's key concepts, basic workflow, and how changes are tracked and published to remote repositories like GitHub. This insight into Git's operations, including managing commits and understanding repository history, is essential for coordinating releases, identifying code versions, and ensuring smooth deployments across various environments.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create clear and concise documentation for complex technical information, often working closely with software development teams. For a Technical Writer collaborating on software projects, understanding Git is increasingly beneficial for versioning documentation files alongside code, ensuring consistency and streamlined updates. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" may be useful by introducing the fundamental concepts of Git and how repositories work, including local file management and connecting to remote platforms like GitHub. This knowledge helps them understand how development teams manage content, allowing for better integration of documentation workflows and effective collaboration on user manuals, API docs, and release notes.
Technical Product Manager
Technical Product Managers guide the development of products, requiring a deep understanding of the technical aspects and development processes. While not typically a hands-on coding role, for a Technical Product Manager, understanding how development teams manage their code is highly advantageous for effective communication, planning, and risk assessment. The "Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course" may be useful by introducing the foundational concepts of Git, including its distributed nature, basic workflow, and how changes are tracked locally and published to GitHub. This knowledge helps in grasping development timelines, release cycles, and the implications of version control for product features and updates.

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Git Going Fast: One Hour Git Crash Course.
Comprehensive guide to Git, written by two of its creators. It covers all aspects of Git, from basic usage to advanced topics such as distributed development and Git internals.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Git, a popular version control system used in software development. It covers the basics of Git, including installation, configuration, and common commands, as well as more advanced topics such as branching and merging.
Focused on writing clean, readable, and maintainable code, this book provides principles and practices essential for any software developer. It is particularly useful for solidifying understanding of good coding standards and is widely recommended across the industry. It serves as an excellent reference for improving code quality.
Offers practical advice on a wide range of software development topics, emphasizing pragmatic approaches to coding, debugging, and problem-solving. It's considered a must-read for developers seeking to improve their craft and is highly relevant for both broadening and deepening understanding. The 20th-anniversary edition keeps its timeless principles relevant for contemporary developers.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Unix programming, including coverage of the command line and its use within the Unix ecosystem, making it a valuable resource for those seeking to develop Unix-based applications.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Git, covering fundamental concepts and progressing to advanced techniques like rebasing and handling submodules. The third edition, published in 2022, offers updated content and a modular approach to learning Git. It's a practical guide suitable for gaining a solid understanding of remote repository management.
Provides a catalog of refactoring techniques to improve the design of existing code without changing its external behavior. It's a practical guide essential for maintaining and evolving software systems, highly relevant for solidifying good coding practices and deepening understanding of code improvement.
Seminal work on the principles and practices of continuous integration, continuous delivery, and deployment automation. It is highly relevant for understanding contemporary software development methodologies focused on frequent and reliable releases. It's valuable for deepening understanding and key reference in the field.
Delves into the fundamental principles and challenges of designing data systems that are reliable, scalable, and maintainable. It is highly relevant for contemporary software development, particularly for engineers working with large-scale data, and provides deep technical understanding.
Written by members of Google's SRE team, this book details the practices and principles of Site Reliability Engineering, focusing on building and operating scalable and reliable systems. It's highly relevant for contemporary software development, particularly for those interested in operations, reliability, and large-scale systems. It provides deep insights into industry practices.
Explores the concepts and practices of designing and building microservices architectures. Given the prevalence of microservices in modern software development, this book is highly relevant for understanding contemporary approaches to system design. It's valuable for deepening understanding and serves as a practical guide.
Based on rigorous research, this book provides insights into the practices that drive high performance in technology organizations, focusing on Lean, DevOps, and continuous delivery. It's highly relevant for understanding contemporary trends and deepening knowledge in these areas, particularly for professionals and graduate students.
Serves as an excellent introduction to the Linux command line and covers basic to advanced concepts, making it a suitable resource for beginners and experienced users alike.
This classic book introduces fundamental design patterns for object-oriented software, providing reusable solutions to common design problems. It is crucial for deepening understanding of software design and valuable reference for developers and architects. While not recently published, its content remains foundational.
Provides a practical introduction to Test-Driven Development (TDD) through a series of examples. It's a foundational text for understanding this important agile practice and is highly relevant for improving code quality and developer confidence. It's particularly useful for those looking to adopt TDD in their workflow.
Introduces Domain-Driven Design (DDD), an approach to software development that emphasizes aligning software design with the business domain. It is highly relevant for designing complex systems and provides a framework for deepening understanding of how to model software effectively based on business requirements.
This comprehensive textbook covers a wide range of algorithms and data structures, providing a theoretical foundation essential for understanding efficient code development. It core resource for deepening understanding, particularly for students and professionals focusing on the computational aspects of software development. It is often used as a textbook in university programs.
Ideal for beginners, this book offers a visual and hands-on approach to learning the fundamentals of Git. It covers essential concepts like repositories, commits, branches, and working with remotes. is particularly useful for those new to version control and remote repositories, providing a tangible understanding of how Git works.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Perforce Helix version control system. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic concepts, advanced workflows, and best practices. It valuable resource for experienced Perforce Helix users who want to improve their skills.
A collection of essays on the challenges of software project management, this book offers timeless insights into the complexities of developing software systems. It's considered a classic and provides a broad understanding of the non-technical aspects of software development, particularly relevant for those interested in project management and the history of the field.
Explores the Staff Engineer role and technical leadership paths for individual contributors in software engineering. It addresses a contemporary career topic and provides guidance for experienced professionals looking to grow their impact without moving into management.
Provides a thorough exploration of the Bash shell, focusing on its features, scripting capabilities, and customization options, making it a valuable resource for those looking to master Bash.
Provides practical guidance on using the Linux command line effectively, covering topics such as file manipulation, text processing, and system administration, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced users looking to enhance their skills.
Provides a comprehensive exploration of operating systems concepts and their implementation, including coverage of the command line and its role within different operating systems, making it suitable for those seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying principles.
Following the popular Head First approach, this book uses a visually rich format to help learners understand Git's core concepts. It goes beyond basic commands to explain the 'why' behind Git operations, making it valuable for solidifying understanding and moving beyond simply memorizing commands. It's suitable for beginners looking for a more engaging learning experience.
Focusing on collaboration and team workflows, this book is highly relevant for those working with remote repositories in a team setting. It explores strategies for effective teamwork, managing projects, and establishing efficient Git practices. is particularly useful for understanding the practical application of Git in a collaborative environment.
Collection of Git tips and tricks. It covers a wide range of topics, from basic concepts to advanced techniques. It great resource for experienced users who want to learn more about Git.
This comprehensive guide covers Git fundamentals, branching strategies, conflict resolution, and working with GitHub for collaboration. It's suitable for both beginners and experienced developers looking to streamline their workflow with remote repositories on GitHub.
This widely used textbook provides a solid theoretical foundation for understanding operating systems, which are a fundamental component of software development environments. It is essential for deepening understanding of how software interacts with hardware and is commonly used in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Is designed for those with a foundational understanding of Git who want to delve into more advanced topics. It covers how Git works internally, handling merge conflicts, rebasing, and different Git workflows. It's valuable for deepening understanding and improving collaborative practices with remote repositories.
Focuses on both Git and GitHub, making it highly relevant for understanding remote repositories hosted on this popular platform. It's designed for complete beginners and uses a visual approach to explain concepts and workflows for collaboration.
Concise and practical guide to Git, covering the most important commands and features. It great resource for beginners who want to get up to speed with Git quickly.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the Subversion version control system. It covers a wide range of topics, including basic concepts, advanced workflows, and best practices. It valuable resource for experienced Subversion users who want to improve their skills.
Offers a comprehensive introduction to database systems, covering fundamental concepts, principles, and practices. Given the ubiquitous nature of databases in software applications, this book is highly relevant for gaining a broad understanding and deepening knowledge in this critical area. It is often used as a textbook.
This influential book explores the dynamics and principles of open-source software development, providing valuable insights into the collaborative nature of GitHub.
While this book primarily focuses on continuous delivery practices, it also provides a comprehensive overview of source control management as a key component of the software delivery pipeline. It emphasizes the importance of version control in enabling continuous integration and continuous delivery.
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Explores Git from the perspective of project management and DevOps, covering workflows and using platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and others. It's valuable for understanding how remote repositories fit into a larger development and deployment pipeline.
Offers a detailed exploration of Git's advanced features and best practices. It's suitable for experienced developers looking to deepen their knowledge and optimize their use of Git with remote repositories. It serves as a valuable reference for complex scenarios.
Provides a practical introduction to version control using real-world examples. It is an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of version control.
Provides a concise overview of the essential Git commands and concepts. It is an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn the basics of Git quickly.
This comprehensive guide to software engineering covers various aspects of software development, including version control and collaboration, making it a valuable resource for GitHub users.
Provides a hands-on approach to learning Python, including coverage of using the command line to interact with the Python interpreter and execute Python scripts, making it suitable for beginners seeking to develop their Python skills.
Provides an introduction to version control systems and specifically focuses on using Git effectively. It covers the basics and then moves on to more pragmatic uses of Git for individuals and teams. While slightly older, the core concepts of version control and Git remain relevant.
A step-by-step guide specifically for complete beginners, this book provides a gentle introduction to version control with Git. It's focused on getting new users comfortable with the basic commands and concepts needed to start using remote repositories.
Affectionately known as the "Dragon Book," this classic text on compiler design. While quite technical, it provides deep insights into how programming languages are processed and executed, contributing to a solid understanding of the underlying mechanisms of software. It is primarily for those seeking to deepen their understanding at a more theoretical level.
A beginner-friendly guide that covers the fundamental concepts of Git, including branching, merging, and working with repositories. good starting point for those new to remote repositories and provides a solid introduction to the core functionalities of Git.
This concise guide offers a comprehensive overview of the core concepts and commands of Git. It covers the basics of version control, branching and merging, and collaboration workflows, making it a suitable resource for beginners seeking a quick introduction to Git.
Fun and engaging way to learn Git. It provides short and easy lessons that can be completed in a month.

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