What is Git?
Git is an open-source, widely-used version control system for code repositories. Companies use Git to safely make changes to their codebases, track those changes across time, and combine or even undo changes made — if needed.
Ready to learn Git?
If you’re ready to start learning how to use Git, then you’ll want to check out my new learning path, Learning Git First-Hand.
This is the first Cloud Academy Learning Path that is comprised of only hands-on labs and lab challenges. It will prepare you to be able to manage Git in your own repositories, by teaching you to:
- Install Git in your code repositories
- Use Git to safely make changes to your code
- Track changes made to your code, including when they were made and by whom
- Edit, merge, and roll back changes made in your codebase
What’s in the Learning Path?
In this lab-exclusive learning path, you’ll learn everything you need to start using Git by working in several hands-on, real-world scenarios. The Learning Git First-Hand Learning Path includes four hands-on labs and one lab challenge. The hands-on labs deal with the basic principles of Git as well as some of the top commands Git users will find themselves using. The lab challenge asks users to use several of these new skills to validate their knowledge by performing basic Git functions.
You will learn to include Git branches, commits, merges, remotes, and tracking. The goal behind having a lab-only learning path was to try something new in having 100% of a student’s exposure to a new skill be practical.
Learning Path steps
- Using Git for Version Control: Commits—In this hands-on lab, you’ll practice using Git to clone a repository, make a change to a file, and commit that change using Git. You’ll also learn more about the basics of version control with Git.
- Using Git for Version Control: Branching—In this hands-on lab, you’ll learn branching strategies of Git, use Git to branch and merge, and apply branching strategies in your own codebases.
- Using Git for Version Control: Managing Workflows—In this lab, you’ll practice working with multiple remotes to show the distributed nature of Git. You’ll also use Git to undo a commit.
- Using Git for Version Control: Top 10 Git Commands—In this hands-on lab, you’ll work a subjective list of top 10 Git commands. These commands will cover a wide range of use cases and with them, you’ll be equipped to efficiently manage workflows like an expert.
- Introduction to Git Challenge—In this lab challenge, you will be provided with a web browser-based integrated development environment (IDE) and the URL of a locally-provisioned Git host. You must fulfill several tasks in what emulates a real-world scenario to complete the challenge.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this learning path. However, a basic knowledge of the principles of code will be helpful. If you still need to master the basics, I recommend starting with the Python for Beginners Learning Path.
Why labs?
Meaningful cloud skills require more than book knowledge. Hands-on experience is required to translate knowledge into real-world results. We see this time and time again in studies about how people learn best — doing the actual task is key.
- Gain quick and easy access our sandboxed instances on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and using Docker, Kubernetes, plus much more
- Practice working in live cloud environments with guided hands-on labs using our step-by-step procedures
- Demonstrate your problem-solving skills with non-guided lab challenges that feature real-world scenarios
What’s the difference?
Hands-on Labs
Hands-on labs are guided experiences to learn in live cloud environments. Think of our them like following a recipe. You’ll have a set of instructions that guide you from start to finish.
- Get step-by-step guidance to practice your skills without getting stuck
- Solidify practical knowledge in a short amount of time
- Facilitate knowledge retention and enable experimentation
Lab Challenges
Lab challenges are non-guided skill validation to demonstrate problem-solving skills — basically, hands-on labs with the gloves off. You jump into an auto-provisioned cloud environment and are given a goal to accomplish. No instructions, no hints. To pass, you’ll have a limited amount of time to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and pass the checks that inspect the state of your lab environment.
