Source Code Management With Git Gui

On 6 minutes, 28 seconds read By Edward
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Graphical User Interface For Git

Perform Git workflows that streamline your software development process and ensure smooth collaboration.

Use Git source code management (SCM) via a GUI. Commit, merge, add and remove remotes for staging and pushing.

The focus of this tutorial will be on a Git local repository with 2 branches.

  1. View a previously created local repository.
  2. Making changes, staging files, and committing with meaningful messages.
  3. Add a remote repository
  4. Pushing your changes to a remote repository.

Requirements For Using Git GUI

Glossary:

Graphical User Interface allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphic icons and indicators.
Distributed Version Control System

(DVCS) tracks versions of files.

Software Collaboration

Teams working together on projects.

Repository

Project storage space where all changes to files are tracked.

Branch

Enables developers to work on different versions of the project.

Stage

Prepare for a commit by adding files to a staging area.

Commit

Captures staged changes as a snapshot to add to repository’s history.

Tools

Programming Tools
Name Description Example
Text editor For creating and editing source code Apache Netbeans IDE
SSH Secure Shell Client OpenSSH
Shell Access Access to the command line. Terminal
Git Distributed version control system. Git
Git Gui Graphical user interface for Git. Git-Gui
Name Description Example

Create Local Repository

# Create New Project Folder If Applicable #
mkdir localproject
# Enter Project Folder #
cd localproject
# Initialize Local Repository As Working Folder #
git init

Add New File To Local Repository

# Create New File #
echo "Did you know that Ojambo.com has a donate button" > Readme.txt
# Start Tracking A Specific File (Stage) With Git #
git add Readme.txt
# Add A Message And Commit Changes With Git #
git commit -m "Initial Commit"

Create New Testing Branch

# Create New Branch #
git branch testing
# Switch To Testing Branch #
git checkout testing

Create New File Testing Branch

# Create New File #
echo "Did you know that Ojambo.com has live streams" > New.txt
# Start Tracking A Specific File (Stage) With Git #
git add New.txt
# Add A Message And Commit Changes With Git #
git commit -m "Testing file"
# Check Status #
git status

Explanation:

  1. The local repository is created without bare because a working folder is needed.
  2. The add command stages the desired files.
  3. The commit command will record a snapshot.
  4. The status command displays the state of the working folder and staging area.

The remote repository is normally hosted on a remote location and accessed through SSH or a platform-specific method. During the commit, a message that clearly explains the changes made and why they were made helps future developers understand the context.

Git Gui Local Repository
Git Gui Selecting Local Repository

Git Gui Master Branch
Git Gui Displaying Local Repository Master Branch

Git Gui Master Branch Commits
Git Gui Displaying Local Repository Master Branch Commits

Git Gui Testing Branch
Git Gui Displaying Local Repository Testing Branch Checkout


Usage

You can use any IDE or text editor and the command-line or a web browser (if applicable) to run Git commands. For this tutorial, Git was used for source code management. Git is cross-platform compatible (Unix, Linux, MacOS and Windows). Git can be downloaded from git-scm.com.

Git Gui is cross-platform compatible (Unix, Linux, MacOS and Windows). Git Gui can be downloaded from Git Gui

Open Source

Git is licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2.0. The copyleft license comes with strict rules and requirements to ensure the software remains free and open-source. It allows commercial use, modification, distribution, and allows making derivatives proprietary, consult the license for more specific details.

Git Gui is licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2.0. or later. The copyleft license comes with strict rules and requirements to ensure the software remains free and open-source. It allows commercial use, modification, distribution, and allows making derivatives proprietary, consult the license for more specific details.

Conclusion:

Git is a popular source code management system. Git is a distributed revision control system because every “working directory” contains the complete history and therefore revision tracking capabilities.

Git can work on remote servers or local machines to push committed changes and clone. Git Gui allows a user to manage Git via a GUI.

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References:

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