Supportsoft Glossary

Git Version Control for Tracking and Managing Code

Git, a distributed version control system, helps software developers manage their projects more efficiently, track changes, and maintain an accurate historical record of their projects. Unlike older version control systems that store project updates on a centralised server, each developer using Git has a complete copy of the repository stored on their computer, giving Git developers more freedom and flexibility in how they work and develop their projects.

Developers can create branches for the purpose of developing new features in their applications—and will be able to safely merge those branches into the project's primary branch once they are stable. With Git, multiple developers can work on branches independently of each other and therefore reduce the number of times they need to wait for other developers to finish their work before they can begin their own.

As Git can be used by small teams or organisations as well as larger engineering organisations, it has become the de facto standard engine for collaborative software engineering. GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket are examples of platforms that build on top of Git and provide additional tools for code review, issue tracking, and automated deployment. Overall, Git helps to create structure and clarity for software development projects, ensuring the organised and traceable evolution of project development over time.