If you're a budding programmer, you should get acquainted with a version control system.

Most programming jobs you come across will require you to collaborate with other engineers through one of these version control systems because it's the best way to organize large codebases and minimize the effects of errors or discrepancies. Git is one such version control system.

We'll take a look at what Git is and how you can get it up and running on your Mac in a few quick steps. You'll also learn a few essential commands to hit the ground running and employ Git in your workflow as soon as you've finished reading this article!

Git Educated: What Is Git and How Does It Help Me?

As we previously mentioned, Git is an open-source version control system (also known as a version control tool or source control). The main purpose of a version control tool is to monitor the changes that occur in a codebase whenever it's updated and allow you to revert to any iteration of your choosing.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Git—Claim Your Free Ebook!

This is a massive help when you realize you've programmed in a bug that flips your app's logic inside out and upside down. In the event of a compiler filled with red error text, just revert to your last Git repository and head to Stack Overflow to noodle out what went wrong the first time around—no harm, no foul.

Git is also free to use.

How to Install Git on a Mac

Check Git version on Mac

Apple's model of Git comes preinstalled on macOS. Open up your Terminal or shell script editor of choice and enter git --version to verify which version of Git is on your machine. If not already on your machine, running git --version will prompt you to install Git.

While this build of Git is alright for some users, you may want to install the more up-to-date version (Apple is often slow to update its version). You can go about doing this in many different ways; we've compiled a few of the easiest options below.

Related: What Is Shell Scripting and Why You Should Use it

Installing Git on macOS With Homebrew

Homebrew home page

Use Homebrew. Homebrew installs a list of useful packages that don't come pre-installed on Macs (view the list of packages on Homebrew's website).

Paste the following command into your terminal to install Homebrew:

            /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
    

The terminal will prompt you to enter a password. Enter the password you use to log in to your Mac to continue the installation process.

Once finished, enter brew install git into the terminal and wait for it to download. Verify that Git was installed by running git --version.

How to Install Git on macOS With the Stand-Alone Installer

Git stand-alone installer for Mac

Tim Harper built and supports a stand-alone installer for Git on Mac—you can find it on SourceForge. Just click Download to get the latest version, or select any previous build by clicking directly on them under the Project Activity header.

Follow the instructions on the installer until Git is on your machine. Verify that Git was installed by running git --version in the terminal. You're finished!

Note: Some users have reported compatibility issues between the stand-alone installer and Mac OS X Snow Leopard or Mac OS X Lion (OSX 10.6 and 10.7). While workarounds are possible, we strongly recommend installing Git with Homebrew to avoid this.

Installing Git for macOS With GitHub Desktop

Know you'll be using GitHub for your project? Installing GitHub Desktop will also install the latest version of Git. Just click Download for macOS and run the installer. Once you've run the installer, verify that Git was installed by running git --version in the terminal. You're finished!

Related: How to Create Your First Repository on Github

Git Started: The Basics

It can seem daunting to dive into Git. Here's the good news: you can get started utilizing what Git has to offer even when you only know a few commands. You'll pick up the rest over time as you discover new needs and seek new solutions. For now, here are some of the basics:

Basic Git Commands

git help, git help -a, git help -g

Displays a list of Git commands and subcommands.

git config --global user.name "FirstName LastName"

Sets your Git username.

git config --global user.email "your-email@ex.com"

Sets your Git email.

git init

Creates a new Git repository (repo) in the current directory.

git add [file/directory]

Adds snapshot of current files to the staging area (index). This does not save any work to your repository.

git rm

Removes files from the index.

git commit

Commits changes in the staging area to the repository. You must run this to save changes to your repo.

git commit -a

You can use this to skip using Git add. This looks for changes, adds them to staging, and commits them.

git diff

See changes between commits.

git log

See your previous commits to the repo.

git branch [name-of-branch]

Creates a new branch in your repository. Branches are used to split up codebases into smaller sections.

git branch

Lists all branches in your repo.

git switch [name-of-branch]

Navigate between branches.

git branch [name-of-branch] -d

Deletes the specified branch.

git clone [directory-path] [name-you-choose]

Creates a clone of the specified repository.

git fetch

Checks changes from another repository without integrating them to your repo.

git pull

Commits changes from another repository to your repo.

git push

Updates repo with changes for others to pull.

Cleaning Up Your Repositories

Now that you know how to install Git on macOS and get started using it, it's time to start making. Don't worry about being right or wrong, clean or messy. Just make new things and learn along the way.

If, amongst the fray of creation, you find your branches have become a little too disorganized for your liking, there are always methods you can use to clean things up.