GIT Training Course – Guideline to Use GIT

On 28 June 2018, S3Corp. conducted an internal training course titled “Guideline to use GIT.” The course focused on version control fundamentals, practical workflows, and advanced topics in GIT. The session was led by Mr. Quang Nguyen and provided clear guidance on using GIT efficiently in software development.

Introduction to GIT and Version Control

GIT is a distributed version control system designed for tracking changes in files. It is widely used in software development for managing source code across teams. Unlike centralized systems, GIT enables each contributor to have a full copy of the repository, ensuring redundancy and data safety.

The course began with a general overview of GIT, describing how it helps manage revisions of files. Participants learned that every project using GIT has a repository which records every change made to its content. Each snapshot of changes is stored as a commit. Developers can create branches to work on different features or fixes in isolation and later merge them into the main codebase. The history of changes is preserved and easily accessible for review.

Understanding these core concepts is essential in any software project to avoid overwriting others' work, manage changes efficiently, and resolve issues faster.

Exploring GIT Workflows

The session explained different types of workflows supported by GIT. These include centralized workflow, feature branch workflow, and the popular gitflow model.

In the centralized workflow, all team members work on a single branch. While simple, it can result in frequent conflicts and lacks flexibility for large teams.

The feature branch workflow improves collaboration. Developers create individual branches for each new feature or bug fix. These branches are later reviewed and merged into the main branch. This method isolates changes, making it easier to test and approve code updates.

Gitflow is a more structured workflow. It includes defined branches for development, features, releases, and hotfixes. Developers work on feature branches which are merged into the develop branch. When the code is stable, a release branch is created, tested, and then merged into both main and develop. Hotfix branches are used to address urgent issues in the main production branch.

This training helped clarify the advantages and use cases of each workflow, aiding developers in choosing the most suitable model for their project needs.

Real-World GIT Case Studies

The training included several case studies based on real challenges developers often face when using GIT.

One scenario covered branching rules. Clear guidelines help teams avoid confusion when naming and managing branches. By establishing rules, teams ensure consistency and reduce the risk of errors.

Another topic focused on conflict resolution. Code conflicts occur when changes in two branches affect the same lines of code. The course showed how to identify these conflicts, manually resolve them, and complete the merge. It emphasized the importance of clear communication and frequent pull requests to minimize conflict incidents.

The session also addressed the concept of merge commits. These commits track the merging of branches and help preserve a complete development history. Participants learned when to use merge commits and how to avoid unnecessary clutter in the history.

The training covered hotfixes, which are urgent patches applied directly to the main codebase. These must be done carefully to avoid introducing new bugs. The course demonstrated how hotfix branches are created, tested, and merged efficiently.

These examples provided practical insights and helped the team understand how to apply GIT beyond theoretical usage.

Advanced GIT Features

The final part of the training focused on advanced GIT functions.

One key feature discussed was handling merge requests or pull requests. This process allows developers to submit code for review before integration. It supports better code quality and collaboration. Teams can discuss changes, suggest improvements, and approve merges through a controlled review system.

The session also covered GIT configuration. Developers learned how to set up personal configurations such as user name and email, ignore patterns, and merge tools. These settings help personalize the GIT environment for improved productivity.

The importance of viewing and understanding the history of changes was also explained. Using commands like git log, git diff, and git blame, developers can track the evolution of code, identify who made changes, and investigate the reasons behind them. This level of traceability is essential for debugging and auditing code.

Lastly, the training explored conflict handling in more detail. It explained how to read conflict markers, decide the correct resolution, and finalize the merge. Understanding these processes helps reduce mistakes during integration.

Conclusion

The GIT training course organized by S3Corp. offered a structured and practical overview of how to use GIT effectively. By covering basic concepts, workflows, real case studies, and advanced tools, the training helped the team gain a better command of version control.

Special thanks to Mr. Quang Nguyen for leading the session and sharing valuable knowledge with the development team.