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Head First Git: A Learner's Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out
What will you learn from this book?
Many people who use Git rely on recipes--basic copy-paste commands--without understanding how this version control system actually works. But what do you do if you find yourself in a tight spot? You can't simply wing it. With this unique hands-on guide, you'll learn valuable ways to use Git in many different situations. Raju Gandhi peels back the layers to reveal the simple yet powerful engine that powers Git, with activities that help you truly understand this crucial tool as you get it up and running. You'll master branches, tags, stashes, and merges; learn best practices; collaborate with your team; and unlock the full potential of Git.
What's so special about this book?
If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect--a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. With this book, you'll learn Git through a multisensory experience that engages your mind rather than a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.
Table of Contents
intro xvii
1 beginning Git: Get Going with Git
2 branching out: Multiple Trains of Thought
3 looking around: Investigating Your Git Repository
4 undoing: Fixing Your Mistakes
5 collaborating with Git–part I: Remote Work
6 collaborating with Git–part II: Go, Team, Go!
7 searching Git repositories: Get a Grep
8 making your life easier with Git: #ProTips
appendix: leftovers: The Top Five Topics We Didn’t Cover
index
Many people who use Git rely on recipes--basic copy-paste commands--without understanding how this version control system actually works. But what do you do if you find yourself in a tight spot? You can't simply wing it. With this unique hands-on guide, you'll learn valuable ways to use Git in many different situations. Raju Gandhi peels back the layers to reveal the simple yet powerful engine that powers Git, with activities that help you truly understand this crucial tool as you get it up and running. You'll master branches, tags, stashes, and merges; learn best practices; collaborate with your team; and unlock the full potential of Git.
What's so special about this book?
If you've read a Head First book, you know what to expect--a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works. If you haven't, you're in for a treat. With this book, you'll learn Git through a multisensory experience that engages your mind rather than a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.
Table of Contents
intro xvii
1 beginning Git: Get Going with Git
2 branching out: Multiple Trains of Thought
3 looking around: Investigating Your Git Repository
4 undoing: Fixing Your Mistakes
5 collaborating with Git–part I: Remote Work
6 collaborating with Git–part II: Go, Team, Go!
7 searching Git repositories: Get a Grep
8 making your life easier with Git: #ProTips
appendix: leftovers: The Top Five Topics We Didn’t Cover
index
506 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2022
36 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 19, 2022
Head First books are always fun. This book certainly meets that bar. The fun starts on the copyright page. Most books list everyone who worked on the book. And they do. We have everyone from the series creators to the editors to the indexer. There is also the “page viewers” (Buddy/Skye the dogs and Zara the cat.)
There are lots of fun learning exercises including the crossword puzzles and figuring out the commands. The text editor is VS Code. You can use whatever you like though although the author strongly recommends against NotePad
As far as content, the book covers installing on both mac and Windows. The screenshots re great. I particularly liked the state diagram to understand commits along with the boxes on how to get out of vim. The book provides a good mental model of git. The repository has sample files so you can practice navigation. I even learned something new – the switch command (instead of checkout)
There are lots of fun learning exercises including the crossword puzzles and figuring out the commands. The text editor is VS Code. You can use whatever you like though although the author strongly recommends against NotePad
As far as content, the book covers installing on both mac and Windows. The screenshots re great. I particularly liked the state diagram to understand commits along with the boxes on how to get out of vim. The book provides a good mental model of git. The repository has sample files so you can practice navigation. I even learned something new – the switch command (instead of checkout)
March 14, 2022
Version management is fundamental to modern software engineering, and git is the most widely used version management software in the industry.
This is an excellent, fun, and educational introductory book on using Git.
Software managers could give their new programmers a copy of this book to make sure they use Git properly.
This is an excellent, fun, and educational introductory book on using Git.
Software managers could give their new programmers a copy of this book to make sure they use Git properly.
September 29, 2022
Nice introduction to Git in Head First's characteristically breezy and informal style.
Gandhi decided not to provide programming code examples or exercises for this book on the extremely successful distributed version control system GIT. He preferred to stick to apply version control on simple documents like funny menus and wedding invitations -tis works very well in my opinion, unless you are very serious -in which case, you probably do not like Head First's style at all and should look for something drier.
The author carefully describes how to download Git to your Windows or Macintosh PC, and novice use of required BASH basics like mkdir, cd and ls. He then shows you how to use Git on your PC starting with command to initialize repositories (git init) and basic versions of key Git commands like add and commit. Gandhi devotes a complete, crucial chapter on branches (chapter 2) and commands to create, move to, apply adds and commits, and find out information about branches. This chapter also includes key material on branch merges and correcting possible mistakes applying Git -in my opinion Gandhi needs to pay a little more attention to one of Git's most frequent stumbling block for beginners: merge conflict and their resolution. By this time you have covered half the book and it is only now, that Gandhi introduces remote repositories and how to work with local and remote repositories (Git commands push, pull, fetch requests), and thus shows you how Git is used in version control workflows for teams (chapters 5 and 6). The rest of the book is somewhat anticlimatic but provides concise descriptions of other useful GIT commands. I do have reservations of the way he stuffs tags, cherry-picking, stashes, reference logging, and rebase into the appendix -perhaps this should probably be seen as a way to encourage readers to go beyond the basic material covered by the book, but it can also come across as (guilty?) afterthoughts.
To wrap it all up, a wonderful book to start learning Git on your own.
Gandhi decided not to provide programming code examples or exercises for this book on the extremely successful distributed version control system GIT. He preferred to stick to apply version control on simple documents like funny menus and wedding invitations -tis works very well in my opinion, unless you are very serious -in which case, you probably do not like Head First's style at all and should look for something drier.
The author carefully describes how to download Git to your Windows or Macintosh PC, and novice use of required BASH basics like mkdir, cd and ls. He then shows you how to use Git on your PC starting with command to initialize repositories (git init) and basic versions of key Git commands like add and commit. Gandhi devotes a complete, crucial chapter on branches (chapter 2) and commands to create, move to, apply adds and commits, and find out information about branches. This chapter also includes key material on branch merges and correcting possible mistakes applying Git -in my opinion Gandhi needs to pay a little more attention to one of Git's most frequent stumbling block for beginners: merge conflict and their resolution. By this time you have covered half the book and it is only now, that Gandhi introduces remote repositories and how to work with local and remote repositories (Git commands push, pull, fetch requests), and thus shows you how Git is used in version control workflows for teams (chapters 5 and 6). The rest of the book is somewhat anticlimatic but provides concise descriptions of other useful GIT commands. I do have reservations of the way he stuffs tags, cherry-picking, stashes, reference logging, and rebase into the appendix -perhaps this should probably be seen as a way to encourage readers to go beyond the basic material covered by the book, but it can also come across as (guilty?) afterthoughts.
To wrap it all up, a wonderful book to start learning Git on your own.
March 15, 2024
ถือว่าทำได้ดีตามสไตล์ของ "Head First" ครับ
มือใหม่ - แนะนำมากๆ = 5⭐
มือเก๋า - อ่านเพลิน ๆ = 4⭐
หนังสือเล่มนี้ก็เหมือน Head First เล่มอื่น ๆ
เหมาะสำหรับมือใหม่ที่เพิ่งศึกษา Git
แต่ถ้าอ่าน ทำแบบฝึก และคิดตามไปจนจบ
ก็สามารถนำ Git มาใช้ทำงานได้สบาย ๆ เลยครับ
ส่วนโปรแกรมเมอร์ที่ใช้ Git ทำงานทุกวันอยู่แล้ว
ดูเหมือนไม่ค่อยได้เรียนรู้อะไรใหม่มากนัก
แต่ก็ตามสไตล์หนังสือ Head First อีกนั่นแหละ
ที่เราสามารถเรียนรู้วิธีการอธิบาย การยกตัวอย่าง และการอธิบายด้วยภาพ
เพื่อนำไปใช้อธิบายหรือสอนคนอื่นต่อได้เป็นอย่างดีครับ
มือใหม่ - แนะนำมากๆ = 5⭐
มือเก๋า - อ่านเพลิน ๆ = 4⭐
หนังสือเล่มนี้ก็เหมือน Head First เล่มอื่น ๆ
เหมาะสำหรับมือใหม่ที่เพิ่งศึกษา Git
แต่ถ้าอ่าน ทำแบบฝึก และคิดตามไปจนจบ
ก็สามารถนำ Git มาใช้ทำงานได้สบาย ๆ เลยครับ
ส่วนโปรแกรมเมอร์ที่ใช้ Git ทำงานทุกวันอยู่แล้ว
ดูเหมือนไม่ค่อยได้เรียนรู้อะไรใหม่มากนัก
แต่ก็ตามสไตล์หนังสือ Head First อีกนั่นแหละ
ที่เราสามารถเรียนรู้วิธีการอธิบาย การยกตัวอย่าง และการอธิบายด้วยภาพ
เพื่อนำไปใช้อธิบายหรือสอนคนอื่นต่อได้เป็นอย่างดีครับ
September 28, 2022
Excellent.
The author obviously knows his subject. His explanations as well as the exercises provided will help you get up and running with Git and Github fairly quickly.
Don't be put off by the number of pages. There should be a genre of technical graphic for these types of book. Very enjoyable. Very informative.
The author obviously knows his subject. His explanations as well as the exercises provided will help you get up and running with Git and Github fairly quickly.
Don't be put off by the number of pages. There should be a genre of technical graphic for these types of book. Very enjoyable. Very informative.
January 18, 2023
This was my first "Head First" series read. I was pleasantly surprised. It is written in a "fun to learn" style, but doesn't scrimp on the technical details. This is clearly an introduction to git and would likely appeal to new users / novices. There might still be some good info for git veterans.
October 21, 2023
A very good and detailed guide to Git. It not only coves the basic commands, but it explains the inner workings of Git at a level that you can easily follow. The book is also a great help if you want to know what changed in Git and learn about the new commands you can use.
December 23, 2021
I don't recommend this book to anyone
There is another Point , Why always NON-native english speakers tend to use more Complex Language than Natives ? It doesn't mean you are smart !
There is another Point , Why always NON-native english speakers tend to use more Complex Language than Natives ? It doesn't mean you are smart !
January 29, 2022
Complete trash
March 9, 2022
Outstanding job covering the complex parts of git. Great examples and exercises that help drive the material home.
October 8, 2024
Where is volume 2?
November 17, 2022
This review originally appeared in "Technical Communication Journal: November 2022, Volume 69, Number 4." https://www.stc.org/techcomm/
New technology often comes with its own set of buzzwords and lingo. If you are reading about technology or talking with software developers, there is a strong chance that you’ve already heard of Git, without ever hearing how to use it, or what it is used for. Many books are written as references answering questions such as, “How do you create a table of contents in MS Word?” You pick up the book, learn to do the one task, and then put the book down, possibly forgetting all the rest of the knowledge you may have picked up. Books like that are not meant to be read straight through. However, Head First Git: A Learner’s Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out is not a simple reference guide; it is an all-inclusive workshop that is set up to teach you how to use Git.
First, Git is a free source control system commonly used to track and store files used when creating computer code. It creates a primary repository where you store files and track changes to them as you work on your code. It need not be solely computer code, as it can also be HTML, XML, and other text-based documentation. You can create a free account on GitHub to store your files in the cloud where you can even solicit feedback from others.
Next, Head First Git stands out above other reference guides in that it is really an easy-to-follow class for Git. It teaches all the basics, along with sophisticated concepts, and gradually builds up your confidence and knowledge through interactive exercises and activities. A website resource provides downloadable files that match each chapter of the book. Once you have these files, they sync up with each exercise, enabling you to experience firsthand how Git works with files, and so you do not have to create each exercise’s content from scratch. The language is light, but serious, and strives to make sure that the reader is not just following along with the concepts but implementing them as well. Git is command line based, like LINUX, so using Git may have more of a learning curve than other source control systems. However, Head First Git strives to demystify the complexities of the application and build on prior knowledge learned.
If you are interested in learning a tool that is widely used across the world and would like to gain a firm understanding of source control systems for whatever files you are using, then pick up a copy of Head First Git, grab a pencil, warm up your computer, and get ready to learn. This book is designed to be worked through interactively, not passively read from your recliner. While it can be used just for reference, Head First Git is designed to be your instructor in the world of Git. You’ll definitely want to “git add” it to your collection, and then “git commit” it to your home repository/bookshelf. Then, don’t be afraid to “git push” it on your friends.
New technology often comes with its own set of buzzwords and lingo. If you are reading about technology or talking with software developers, there is a strong chance that you’ve already heard of Git, without ever hearing how to use it, or what it is used for. Many books are written as references answering questions such as, “How do you create a table of contents in MS Word?” You pick up the book, learn to do the one task, and then put the book down, possibly forgetting all the rest of the knowledge you may have picked up. Books like that are not meant to be read straight through. However, Head First Git: A Learner’s Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out is not a simple reference guide; it is an all-inclusive workshop that is set up to teach you how to use Git.
First, Git is a free source control system commonly used to track and store files used when creating computer code. It creates a primary repository where you store files and track changes to them as you work on your code. It need not be solely computer code, as it can also be HTML, XML, and other text-based documentation. You can create a free account on GitHub to store your files in the cloud where you can even solicit feedback from others.
Next, Head First Git stands out above other reference guides in that it is really an easy-to-follow class for Git. It teaches all the basics, along with sophisticated concepts, and gradually builds up your confidence and knowledge through interactive exercises and activities. A website resource provides downloadable files that match each chapter of the book. Once you have these files, they sync up with each exercise, enabling you to experience firsthand how Git works with files, and so you do not have to create each exercise’s content from scratch. The language is light, but serious, and strives to make sure that the reader is not just following along with the concepts but implementing them as well. Git is command line based, like LINUX, so using Git may have more of a learning curve than other source control systems. However, Head First Git strives to demystify the complexities of the application and build on prior knowledge learned.
If you are interested in learning a tool that is widely used across the world and would like to gain a firm understanding of source control systems for whatever files you are using, then pick up a copy of Head First Git, grab a pencil, warm up your computer, and get ready to learn. This book is designed to be worked through interactively, not passively read from your recliner. While it can be used just for reference, Head First Git is designed to be your instructor in the world of Git. You’ll definitely want to “git add” it to your collection, and then “git commit” it to your home repository/bookshelf. Then, don’t be afraid to “git push” it on your friends.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews