Git Lecture 19 Git Tools and Extensions

Git tools and extensions

There are many tools and extensions that help streamline your workflow, increase efficiency, and provide additional functionality when working with Git. This section introduces some commonly used Git tools and extensions.

Git graphical interface tool

The Git graphical interface tool provides a visual interface, making Git operations more intuitive and easy to understand. The following are some commonly used Git graphical interface tools:

• GitHub Desktop : GitHub officially provides a cross-platform desktop application with an intuitive user interface that simplifies operations such as cloning, committing, and branch management of Git repositories.

• SourceTree : A free Git and Mercurial graphical interface tool developed by Atlassian, supporting Windows and macOS. It provides an intuitive set of tools for easy version control and code review.

• GitKraken : A powerful cross-platform Git graphical interface tool that supports Windows, macOS and Linux. It has a customizable user interface that integrates many advanced Git features, such as interactive merge resolution and branch views.

• Tower : A Git graphical interface tool designed for Mac, providing a first-class user experience and powerful functions. It supports fast cloning, committing, merging and branch management, and seamlessly integrates with external Diff and Merge tools.

Git command line tool

In addition to graphical interface tools, the Git command line tool is the basic way to use Git. Here are some commonly used Git command-line tools:

• Git Bash : The command-line tool provided by Git for Windows, which can use a Linux-style command-line interface on Windows. It includes Git and some common Unix tools, providing a complete Git command line environment.

• Git command line : The command line tool that comes with Git can be used in the terminal or command prompt. By using the Git command line tool, you can perform various Git operations such as cloning a repository, committing changes, merging branches, and more.

• Git GUI : Git comes with a simple graphical interface tool that can perform some basic Git operations through a visual interface, such as committing, merging, and branch management. It's a great starter tool for beginners.

Git extensions and plugins

Git extensions and plugins can enhance Git's functionality and adapt it to specific workflows and needs. Here are some commonly used Git extensions and plugins:

• Git LFS : Git Large File Storage (LFS) is an open source extension

, for managing large binary files. It speeds up cloning and pushing by storing large files on dedicated servers instead of Git repositories.

• Git Flow : Git Flow is a popular Git workflow extension that provides a set of high-level commands and a branching model to support best practices for feature development, release, and maintenance releases.

• Git Hooks : Git Hooks allow you to automatically execute custom scripts when specific Git actions occur. You can use Git Hooks to automate running tests, code formatting, builds, and other custom actions.

• Git Submodule : Git Submodule allows you to have one Git repository as a subdirectory of another Git repository. This is great for managing dependencies and sharing code bases.

Practical Tips and Best Practices

In the process of using Git for version control, mastering some practical skills and following best practices can help improve work efficiency and code management quality. This blog will introduce some common Git tips and best practices to help you make better use of Git for project development.

1. Use the .gitignore file to filter files that do not need to be tracked

In version control, some files or directories do not need to be tracked, such as temporary files generated by compilation, log files, dependent libraries, etc. To avoid these files constantly appearing in the version control history, we can use .gitignorethe file to tell Git to ignore these files.

.gitignoreThe file is a plain text file, each line specifies a file or directory to ignore. You can use wildcards and specific rules to describe file types or file names that need to be ignored.

Here is an example .gitignorefile:

# 忽略所有的编译产生的临时文件
*.o
*.log

# 忽略依赖库和生成的可执行文件
lib/
bin/

# 忽略IDE生成的配置文件和目录
.idea/
.vscode/

By using .gitignorefiles, you can avoid committing files that you don't need to track into version control, keeping your code base clean and readable.

2. Automate tasks with Git hooks

Git hooks are custom scripts that execute automatically when specific Git operations (such as commits, pushes, etc.) occur. Git hooks can be used to implement some automated tasks, such as code formatting, running tests, and automatic builds.

Git hooks are divided into client-side hooks and server-side hooks. Client-side hooks are executed locally, server-side hooks are executed on remote repositories.

Common client hooks include:

• pre-commit: Triggered before a commit is performed, which can be used for code formatting, code review, etc.
• pre-push: Triggered before the push is performed, it can be used to run tests, check code quality, etc.

Server-side hooks can be used to perform some actions before the code is pushed to the remote repository, such as automatic deployment, triggering continuous integration, etc.

Using Git hooks can help teams automate some repetitive tasks during the development process, improving code quality and productivity.

3. Write meaningful commit messages

A good commit message is a good habit, it can help team members better understand your changes, and trace the history of changes. Here are some suggestions for writing meaningful commit messages:

• Use concise language to describe what changed.
• Use a verb beginning to describe an ongoing operation (like "repair", "add", "update", etc.).
• Avoid ambiguous terms and use specific descriptions instead.
• If applicable, provide information related to the issue tracking system (such as a JIRA ticket number).

An example of a good commit message:

Copy code添加用户注册功能

这次提交添加了用户注册功能，包括表单验证、数据库存储和页面展示。修复了之前提交的登录页面的错误验证逻辑。

关联JIRA票号：PROJ-123

4. Using Git Patches and Patched Commits

Git patch (patch) is a way to export and apply changes to other code bases in the form of patch files. Patch files contain changed diff information and can be easily shared and applied with other developers.

To create a patch file, use the following command:

plaintextCopy code
git format-patch <commit>

where <commit>is the hash or branch name of the commit to export. This will generate a patch file named after the commit message.

To apply a patch to another repository, use the following command:

plaintextCopy code
git am <patchfile>

where <patchfile>is the name of the patch file.

Patch commits (cherry-pick) are another way to apply a single commit from one branch to another. It helps you selectively apply specific changes.

To commit with patching, use the following command:

plaintextCopy code
git cherry-pick <commit>

where <commit>is the hash or branch name of the commit to apply.

These practical tips and best practices can help you better use Git for version control and collaborate effectively with your team. By using .gitignorefiles to filter files that don't need to be tracked, leveraging Git hooks to automate tasks, writing meaningful commit messages, and using Git patches and patched commits, you can increase productivity and keep your projects clean and consistent.

Git learning paths and recommended resources

• Official documentation : Git official documentation provides detailed Git commands and concept descriptions, and is an authoritative reference for learning Git. The official documentation covers all aspects of Git, from getting started to advanced usage.

• GitHub Learning Lab : The GitHub Learning Lab offers a series of interactive tutorials related to Git and GitHub. These tutorials are practice-based, helping you learn and understand the use of Git through practical operations.

• Pro Git : Pro Git is a free ebook written by Scott Chacon and Ben Straub that details every aspect of Git. This book explains how Git works and common uses in an easy-to-understand manner, and includes numerous examples and cases.

• Git branching model : Vincent Driessen's Git branching model is a popular Git branch management strategy. This model describes a method for efficiently using Git branches in team development and provides a clear set of branching guidelines.