Git

Git is a distributed version control system. Developers use it to track changes to files, manage code across teams, and maintain project history. It works locally and does not need a central server to operate.

Git is fast, flexible, and efficient. It allows users to work offline, switch between versions of files, and combine work from different people or branches without confusion.

Git manages projects by recording snapshots of files. Each snapshot is called a commit. These commits form a timeline of the project’s development. Git also supports branching, which lets users try ideas or fix issues without changing the main codebase.

History and Origin

Git was created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds. He developed it to manage the Linux kernel, a large and complex open-source project.

Before Git, Linux used a system called BitKeeper. BitKeeper was fast but not open-source. In 2005, the license agreement for BitKeeper changed. This led the Linux community to look for alternatives.

Torvalds wanted a tool that was free, fast, secure, and suited for large teams. He designed Git around a few key ideas:

• Track content, not files
• Verify data through cryptographic hashes
• Use a distributed model
• Support fast branching and merging

Git was built quickly, with its first release in April 2005. Developers adopted it rapidly. Over time, Git replaced older systems like CVS and Subversion.

Today, Git is the most widely used version control system in software development. It supports small and large teams, personal projects, and enterprise systems.

Comparison with Previous Systems

Before Git, developers used centralized systems. Tools like CVS, Subversion (SVN), and Perforce followed a client-server model. Code lived on a central server. Users downloaded code, made changes, and pushed those changes back to the server.

This worked well for simple projects, but had limits:

• Developers needed network access to work
• Merges were slow and often caused conflicts
• Project history could be lost or corrupted
• Access control was strict and inflexible

Git improved on these in several ways:

• Distributed Model - With Git, every user has a full copy of the repository. They can commit changes, inspect logs, or switch branches without being connected to a server. This model allows for faster workflows and offline development.
• Cryptographic Hashes - Git uses SHA-1 hashes to name each commit. These hashes protect the history from tampering. If any part of a commit changes, the hash changes too. This makes the project history reliable.
• Branching and Merging - Older systems treated branches as heavy and slow. Git makes branching fast and cheap. Users create, merge, or delete branches with no performance issues. This encourages experimentation and structured workflows.

Core Concepts and Features

Git includes several core features that shape how it is used.

• Commits - A commit represents a snapshot of the project. It includes changes, metadata, and a reference to the previous commit. Commits are the basic unit of history in Git. Each commit has a unique ID based on its content.
• Branches - A branch is a movable pointer to a commit. The default branch is often called main or master. Users create branches to add features or fix bugs without touching the main branch. Branches isolate work and allow it to evolve safely.
• Merges - Git can combine changes from one branch into another. If the changes do not overlap, Git merges automatically. If they do, Git marks the conflict and asks the user to fix it. This process is called a merge conflict.
• Staging Area - Before a commit, Git uses a staging area (or index). This lets users control which changes to include in the next commit. The command git add places files in the staging area, and git commit saves them.
• Cloning - To start working with a project, users run git clone. This copies the full repository, including history and branches. The clone is fully functional and works offline.
• Pull and Push - When working with a shared repository, users use git pull to get new changes and git push to upload their own. These commands keep teams in sync.
• Remote Repositories - A remote repository is a version of the project stored elsewhere. Git can work with many remotes. The default is often called origin. Developers can fetch, push, or pull from these remotes to share work.
• Tags - Tags label specific commits, often to mark releases or milestones. Unlike branches, tags do not move. They stay fixed to a specific commit.
• Logs - Git keeps a full history of all commits. Users inspect it using git log. This shows the author, date, and message for each commit. The history helps track down bugs and understand how the project has changed.

Use Cases in Web Hosting and Development

Git is used across all areas of software development, including web hosting. It helps manage website code, configuration files, and deployment scripts.

• Version Control for Websites - Developers store site files in Git. This includes HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and templates. Git tracks changes, making it easier to fix mistakes or restore previous versions.
• Team Collaboration - Teams use Git to split work into branches. Each developer works independently. Later, their branches are merged. This prevents conflicts and keeps the codebase stable.
• Deployment - Git integrates with deployment tools. When code is pushed to a specific branch, tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Jenkins trigger a deployment. This automates the process of publishing websites.
• Configuration Management - Git is used to manage server setup files, DNS records, and firewall settings. These files are treated as code. Changes are tracked and reviewed before going live.
• Backup and History - Every Git clone contains the full history. If the server fails, any developer with a copy can restore the project. This protects against data loss.

Advantages of Git

Git provides many benefits for developers and teams.

• Speed - Most operations happen locally. This makes them fast. Logs, diffs, and commits run without network delay.
• Reliability - Git stores history in a way that cannot be changed without notice. It uses checksums to protect data. This makes it safe for critical projects.
• Flexibility - Git supports many workflows. Teams use branching models like Git Flow or trunk-based development. Git does not enforce a single method.
• Offline Work - Since everything is local, users can work without a network. This suits remote environments or travel.
• Rich Tooling - Git works on the command line and has many graphical tools. It integrates with IDEs and platforms like GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Azure DevOps.
• Community and Support - Git has wide use and community support. Tutorials, guides, and help are easy to find. Many hosting providers include Git in their services.

Limitations and Considerations

Git has a few limitations to keep in mind.

• It stores the full history. Large binary files or long histories can increase disk use.
• The command line has a learning curve. Users may find it complex at first.
• Merge conflicts can be hard to resolve in large or fast-moving projects.
• Git is not well-suited for managing large files without special tools like Git LFS.

These issues are manageable and do not affect most web hosting tasks.

Git Hosting with NTC Hosting

Git is seamlessly integrated into all web hosting services provided by NTC Hosting, including web hosting, VPS, semi-dedicated servers, and dedicated servers, as long as they are equipped with the Hepsia Control Panel. NTC Hosting allows SSH access, which Git utilizes for efficient pushing and pulling of code.

With the Hepsia Control Panel, NTC Hosting offers comprehensive Git support, enabling developers to easily connect to a repository and deploy code without the need for additional scripting.

NTC Hosting's services leverage Git as a foundational tool, ensuring that features such as scaling, backups, and monitoring are based on code stored in Git repositories. This setup allows some systems to rebuild the entire environment based on the current state of the repository, providing a robust and flexible hosting solution.