I had to learn Git as a programmer. If you want to easily collaborate on a codebase, you really need either Git or something similar. But as a non-programmer, you’ve probably never even heard that name, have you? Then why would you ever need it?
Well, for exactly the same reasons!
What is Git?
It’s a version control system, which means it remembers how the content of a directory (called “repository”) changed over time. You can decide, wich moments in time are saved – those snapshots of the repository are called “commits”. You can send those commits to a server (it’s called “pushing”), so that other people can download them (”pull”) and collaborate and your project (plus the server works as a backup of your data). If you ever want to revert your repository to how it looked like some time ago, or to see how it changed over time, or who wrote a particular line in a file, etc. etc., Git offers you all of that.
Why should I care?
Did you notice, how I didn’t use the word “code” anywhere in the above definition? That’s because Git isn’t about code or programming. Yes, it was created to help with development of the Linux Kernel, but it really doesn’t care what kind of files it handles.
Are you a graphic designer, tired of keeping all those files like project.psd, final.psd, final2.psd, final2-FINAL.psd, because the client might change their opinion one more time and basically ask you to redo your first project once again? Then Git will help you!
Are you a writer, wanting to make a major change in your book, but afraid it will not work out fine, so you’d like to be able to quickly revert that change? Yup, Git is for you!
Are you a person, who wants to track how their CV changed over time, without keeping all the versions as separate files? Just use Git!
Do you want to collaborate on something with your friends, without sending email attachments back and forth or worrying if everyone has the newest version? Git might be exactly what you need!
How do I learn it?
Well, not here, this is not a tutorial. The Internet already has plenty of those. Pick some and spend some time with it – you won’t regret it!