It’s ridiculous isn’t it? You shouldn’t have to feel like you’re learning some cryptic new language to use version control software.

Just do a really simple work flow:

1. “Clone” the code repository from the internet onto your computer (“clone” = “copy”). You only do this once.
2. Edit code like normal
3. When you feel happy with some changes you’ve made, “commit” them (“commit” = “save”)
4. When you’ve committed a few changes, “push” them back to the original repository so your coworkers can see your changes (“push” = “publish”) Repeat

There are a few good practices:

• “Pull” often. I.e. update your local copy of the repository with your coworkers’ changes
• Write an intelligible message with every commit so you and your coworkers can understand what you changed
• If you’re going to take on a big project, make a “branch” and work there. A branch is like a copy within a copy of the repository so you don’t mess with code that’s already working. When you’re happy with a bunch of commits/pushes in a branch, you “merge” it back into the main repository.

Everything else is just details!