Introduction To Git
Published Oct 29, 2025 - By: David Collini
What is Git?
From Android to Google Chrome, to git itself, git is used in software projects across the internet. Originally created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds to maintain the Linux Kernel, the project has evolved far beyond its initial roots.
Used for tracking changes in software, git has proven itself to be very useful for managing projects with multiple people involved.
Installation
The first step on your journey with Git is to download it. Luckily everything you need is on the git’s install page, just note for macOS you might want to install Git using homebrew, which can be downloaded on their website.
Pick your IDE
Writing code requires a place to write it, so next we’re going to pick an application to do that. An applications for writing code is known as an IDE, short for Integrated Development Environments. This may sound overly technical, but do not be overwhelmed, these programs are essentially glorified notepad apps with additional tools for writing code.
I’m currently writing this article using VSCodium, a purely open source and telemetry-free version of Microsoft’s VSCode. Another popular IDE is Zed, a simple and fast solution. JetBrains creates IDEs depending on what language you’re writing in, usage is tied to a subscription, but free subscriptions are given to students and teachers.
Finding an IDE is ultimately subjective, so pick whichever one you like the most.
Choose your Git Host
The last step before we start using Git is choosing where to host the code. The two most popular options are GitHub by Microsoft and GitLab.