What is Version Control?
Version control is like Google Docs' version history, but for code. It tracks every change, lets you go back in time, and helps multiple people work on the same project without chaos.
Git vs GitHub
They're related but different:
- Git — The tool that runs on your computer and tracks changes
- GitHub — A website that stores your Git repositories online and adds collaboration features
- Think of it like: Git is the engine, GitHub is the garage where you park and share your car
Key Concepts in Plain English
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Repository (Repo) | A project folder tracked by Git |
| Commit | A snapshot of your project at a point in time |
| Branch | A parallel version of your project for experiments |
| Merge | Combining changes from one branch into another |
| Pull Request (PR) | Asking to merge your changes into the main project |
| Clone | Downloading a copy of a repository to your computer |
Why It Matters for Prototyping
Even for quick prototypes, version control helps you:
- Undo mistakes without starting over
- Try experiments without breaking your working version
- Share your code with others (or AI tools)
- Deploy to platforms like Vercel that integrate with GitHub
You don't need to master Git to prototype. Learn 'git add', 'git commit', and 'git push' — that's enough for 90% of prototyping.