What is Git?

Git is a free, open source distributed configuration management tool used for version control of files with an emphasis on speed. Git's design was inspired by BitKeeper and Monotone.

Git is becoming popular for a few key reasons:

• Git was created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds to assist development of the Linux kernel which by default gives it a large user base with constant "live testing" of the application.
• Git works well in a "disconnected" world e.g. when using a laptop. Many open source developers work this way so it's a natural fit.
• Google Android has been developed using Git since 2007. Commercial mobile phone companies wanting to support the Android platform have no choice but to start using Git and in doing so are starting to realise the benefit of true distributed version control. Several laptop producers have announced plans to use Android in the near future.

The Highlights of Git Include:

• Distributed development. Like many version control systems, Git allows each developer to create a local copy of an entire section of a repository including history, changes can be made (without dependency on network access or a central server) and committed from one repository to another.
• Support for non-linear development. Git supports rapid and convenient branching and merging, and includes powerful tools for visualising and navigating a non-linear development history. A core assumption in Git is that a change will be merged more often than it is written, as it is passed around various reviewers.
• Efficient handling of large projects. Git is fast and scales well against large projects or significant version history. Git uses an efficient packed format for long-term revision storage.
• Cryptographic authentication of history. The Git history is stored in such a way that the name of a particular revision (a "commit" in Git terms) depends upon the complete development history leading up to that commit.
• Toolkit design. Following the Unix tradition, Git is a collection of many small tools written in C, and a number of scripts that provide convenient wrappers. Git provides tools for both easy human usage and easy scripting to perform new clever operations.
• Besides providing a version control system, the Git project provides a generic low-level toolkit for tree history storage and directory content management. In addition to the packaged user interface several other projects (porcelains) offer compatible version control interfaces.

How Clearvision Can Help

In order to benefit from Git, organisations need to understand and move to true distributed development adapting their centralised methods to a distributed model.

Clearvision offers commercial Git support, Git Training, Git Consulting and a range of Git products.

It's important to note that no solution is ideal for every organisation, Git is not a straightforward replacement for a centralised version control system like Subversion.

Useful Links

Git WIKI:
http://git.or.cz/gitwiki/FrontPage

Git User Manual:
http://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/user-manual.html

Git Home Page:
http://git-scm.com/

Google Tech Talk (Linus Torvalds on Git):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XpnKHJAok8

Git - a Talk by Randal Schwartz:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3999952944619245780