Best Practices in Version Control

1. Introduction

Version control is an essential aspect of modern software development, enabling teams to track changes, collaborate, and manage code efficiently. This lesson aims to provide a comprehensive overview of best practices in version control specifically for front-end development.

2. Key Concepts

What is Version Control?

Version control is a system that records changes to files over time so that you can recall specific versions later. It helps to manage source code changes in a collaborative environment.

Types of Version Control Systems

Centralized Version Control (CVCS)
Distributed Version Control (DVCS)

3. Best Practices in Version Control

Use Meaningful Commit Messages
Commit messages should clearly explain what changes were made and why.
```
git commit -m "Fix bug in user login flow"
```
Commit Often, but with Purpose
Make commits small and focused on a single change. This helps in tracking changes more effectively.
Branching Strategy
Use branches for features, bug fixes, and experiments. This keeps the main branch stable.
```
git checkout -b feature/new-feature
```
Regularly Sync with the Main Branch
Ensure your branches are up-to-date with the main branch to avoid merge conflicts.
```
git fetch origin
git rebase origin/main
```
Review Changes Before Merging
Always review code changes via pull requests before merging into the main branch.
Use Tags for Releases
Tagging releases helps in identifying stable points in your project's history.
```
git tag -a v1.0 -m "Release version 1.0"
```

4. FAQ

What is the purpose of version control?

Version control enables developers to track changes, revert to previous versions, collaborate with others, and manage source code efficiently.

How do I resolve merge conflicts?

To resolve merge conflicts, you will need to manually edit the files to fix the conflicting changes, then stage and commit the resolved files.

What is the difference between git fetch and git pull?

git fetch downloads the changes from the remote repository without merging them, while git pull fetches and merges the changes into your current branch.