Why Version Control?
Git tracks every change you make to your code. If something breaks, you can go back to a working version. GitHub stores your code in the cloud and enables deployment.
Essential Git Commands
The commands you'll use daily:
- git status — See what files have changed
- git add . — Stage all changes for commit
- git commit -m 'message' — Save changes with a description
- git push — Upload changes to GitHub
Creating a GitHub Repository
Steps to connect your project to GitHub:
- Create a GitHub account if you don't have one
- Click 'New Repository' on GitHub
- Name it the same as your project folder
- Follow the instructions to push an existing repository
Cursor has built-in Git support. You can stage, commit, and push changes from the Source Control panel (Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + G).
Making Your First Commit
Let's save your work. In the terminal:
Commands to run:
- git add .
- git commit -m 'Initial commit with Next.js setup'
- git push -u origin main
Commit often. Small, frequent commits are easier to understand and roll back than large, infrequent ones.