Braids - Intro to git with H&D

# Braids - Intro to git
Author: H&D

Goal: introduce Git as an archiving practice, then do a little branch-based website exercise published live.

# Planning (90 min)

1. Context: what git is, what it does, who uses it (10 min)
2. Install Git (10 min)
3. Core concepts + core commands (20 min)
4. Forgejo: accounts + clone/push permissions (10 min)
5. Exercise: branch a page, publish live, iterate (35 min)
6. Wrap-up: good practices + next steps (5 min)

If you have been working on a file on your computer and the directory starts to look like this:

    motivation-letter-first-draft.odt
    motivation-letter.odt
    motivation-letter-less-formal.odt
    motivation-letter-less-formal-comments-HvK.odt
    motivation-letter-less-formal-comments-HvK-LS.odt
    motivation-letter-FINAL.odt
    motivation-letter-FINAL-pictures.odt
    motivation-letter-FINAL-pictures-small.odt

Then git can be helpful!

# What is git?

- git is a distributed version control system
- git tracks changes over time to files inside a folder
- git enables:
  - history (time)
  - collaboration (many authors)
  - experimentation (branches)
  - traceability (who/what/when/why)

is the archive analogy helpful? it feels a bit like comapring something abstract with something else thats abstract

Archiving analogy: - commit = deposit with metadata - log = inventory / finding aid - branch = parallel dossier / alternative interpretation

# What is git not?

- git ≠ Github!
- Not a backup system (though it can help)
- Not a file sync tool (though it can be used like that)
- Not a CMS (though it can be used like that)
- Not magic: it stores snapshots + metadata, you still choose what to record

# Core concept: Commits

In git, a commit is a checkpoint in the repository timeline. A commit contains this information:

1. What changes have taken place?
2. Who made these changes?
3. When were the changes made?
4. Why were the changes made?
5. Where was the last checkpoint?

Every time an author makes a set of changes that are meaningful together, she commits her changes by describing them, creating a checkpoint in the timeline to return to in the future.

The changes possible in a commit are:
  - editing a file
  - adding a file
  - removing a file
  - renaming (moving) a file

Commits do not know about the timeline they are in. They only know of their preceeding commit, otherwise known as their "parent".

You can always checkout a commit: visit the repository at that checkpoint on its timeline. Basically time-travel.

# Core concept: Three Areas

1. Working tree: your files right now
2. Staging area: selection for the next deposit
3. Repository history: overview of commits

This is why Git feels "archival": - you intentionally select what becomes part of the record.

# Core concept: Branching

In git, a branch is a named series of commits. In the previous example, there is only one branch, named "main" by default.

In a situation where you want to "take a detour" from the main course of the development of a repository, you can create a separate branch. Now, parrallel timelines of the same repository exist next to each other.

Example use cases of branching:
  - if you want to experiemnt with a new feature affecting many files
  - if you want to propose an improvement to your collaborators without editing their work "main"
  - If you want to make existing software compatible on another platform

There is a lot of discourse around when to branch and how often. It varies from person to person and group to group.

From the perspective of git, since branching doesn't add any technical overload on a project, it is encouraged to branch more and branch often. From a logical perspective, every branch creates a parrallel timeline, and this might be a lot to keep track of mentally.

Branching allows for and encourages collaboration and is at the core of the free and open source software movement.

# Core concept: Merging

In git, merging is when you incorporate commits from a separate branch into your own.

There are various merging techniques, and most of the time, the automated algorithm will work. Sometimes however, you might encounter a merge confilct: a section of a file where both branches have conflicting data that cannot be automatically resolved. In this case, you are prompted to manually resolve the conflicts, which can take the form of:
  - accepting a change from one branch and rejecting the other
  - accepting and keeping both changes
  - re-editing the files to incorporate both changes

After merging two branches, a merge commit is created. This is an exceptional commit that has two parent commits instead of one.

# Terminology Overview

- repository: a directory initialised with git
- commit: a checkpoint in the repository timeline(s)
- checkout: to visit the repository at a specific commit in its history.
- delta: a set of changes of a single commit
- working tree: your files as they are right now in the repository
- staging area: a place to add changes to
- branch: a named series of commits, a detour, a prrallel timeline
- merge: an incorporation of commits from another branch
- remote: a copy of the repository on a different host
- clone: to download an identical copy of a repository
- push: to upload local commits to a remote repository
- pull: to re-download commits from the remote repository

# Ecosystem

- git: the version control system itself
- .git: a hidden subfolder where git operates
- git hosts: platforms where git repositories are hosted
  - GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab (operated by Big Tech Giants)
  - Alternatives
    - Codeberg (non-profit, community led)
    - Oxacab (riseup.net for activists, journalists)
    - Forgejo / Gitea (self-hosted)
- git clients: tools used to work with git on your computer
  - `git` command line tool (free & open source)
  - `tig` command line tool (free & open source)
  - sourcetree, Github Desktop, VS Code (operated by Big Tech)
  - many code editors (e.g. sublime, atom) have git extensions
  - many, many more tools and extensions

# Typical solo local workflow

1. You initalise a directory on your computer with git.
2. You make changes on the directory.
3. You stage your changes and commit them.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3.

Use case: tracking changes on a local, private folder, such as bookkeeping.

# Typical solo remote workflow

1. You clone a repository from a remote host to your local computer.
2. You make your changes to the repository.
3. You stage and commit your changes.
4. You push (upload) your commit up to the remote.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4

Use case: tracking and backing up a private folder, such as a password store.

# Typical collaborative remote workflow

1. You clone a repository from a remote host to your local computer.
2. You make your changes to the repository.
3. You stage and commit your changes.
4. You push (upload) your commit up to the remote.
5. You pull (re-download) other people's commits from the remote.
6. Repeat steps 5, 2, 3 and 4

Use case: tracking and collaborating on a repository with others such as a website project.

# Workshop outcome

> Each participant will:

> - clone a repo
> - create a branch
> - edit a simple profile website
> - commit changes with a clear message
> - push branch to Forgejo
> - see it appear in the live gallery

# Install Git

Check first:

    git --version

If missing:

- macOS: Xcode Command Line Tools
- Windows: Git for Windows
- Linux: package manager (apt/dnf/pacman)

Minimum requirement: you can run git in a terminal.

# Commands: the essential set

- git status (always)
- git init (initalise a repo)
- git commit (store changes in the repo)
- git add (add files to the commit)
- git fetch (sync with a repo online)
- git pull (sync with a repo online and merge)
- git checkout (visit the timeline at a specific checkpoint)
- git branch (take a detour)
- git merge (merge branches)
- git diff (what changed)
- git log (history)
- plus: log, diff

# Command: git init

Create a repository in the current folder. Use this when you are creating and working on your own projects.

    git init

Creates a .git/ directory containing history + metadata.

For the exercise we will use git clone instead of git init.

# Command: git clone

Cloen (copy) a repository in the current folder.

    git clone https://git.hackersanddesigners.nl/hrk/braids <destination>

Downloads a repo from the web, complete with the full commit history and all changes.

# Command: git status (your dashboard)

    git status

Shows:

- current branch
- staged vs unstaged changes
- untracked files

# Command: git add (select files)

Stage files for the next commit.

    git add index.html
    git add assets/

Stage everything (use carefully):

    git add .

Staging is curatorial: select what belongs together.

# Command: git commit

    git commit -m "Added name to my page"

Good commit message pattern:

- What changed
- Why it changed (reason/intent)
- Scope stays small

# Command: git log (inventory)

    git log --oneline --graph

Gives a quick "finding aid" of earlier commits. Press 'q' to exit.

# Command: git branch and git checkout

List branches:

    git branch

Create a branch:

    git branch people/yourname

Switch to branch:

    git checkout people/yourname

Shortcut (create + switch):

    git checkout -b people/yourname

Branches are parallel dossiers: safe space for changes.

# Command: git push / git pull

Push your branch to the server:

    git push -u origin people/yourname

Pull updates from server:

    git pull

During the exercise you mostly push your branch. Pull is mainly for getting new changes on main (if needed).

# Optional: git rm

Remove a tracked file and stage the removal:

    git rm old.html
    git commit -m "Remove old page"

For this workshop you probably will not need it.

# Forgejo: what we use today

- Forgejo is an open-source alternative to Github
- Forgejo hosts the central repository (remote)

You will: - create an account - clone via HTTPS - push your branch

Share your username with us so we can add you as a collaborator

Rules for today:

- do NOT push to main
- create your branch under people/<your-slug>

# Forgejo: account setup

1. Create account at: git.hackersanddesigners.nl
2. Confirm you can sign in

Resources:

- https://git.hackersanddesigners.nl/hrk/braids - the repo we will be working in
- live gallery URL: https://braids.hackersanddesigners.nl
- these slides: https://braids.hackersanddesigners.nl/slides

# Exercise overview

You will build a (deliberately) simple page:

- "Hi, I'm …"
- maybe a gif?
- a link?
- optional: background, glitter, bad taste encouraged

Workflow loop:

clone -> branch -> edit -> status -> add -> commit -> push -> view -> iterate

# Exercise: step 1 (clone)

cd to a logical location in your computer, then:

    git clone https://git.hackersanddesigners.nl/hrk/braids
    cd braids

If everything went well, check the repo with:

    git status
    git branch

The first time you checkout from https://git.hackersanddesigners.nl the server will ask you for credentials. These will be remembered, so only once.

# Exercise: step 2 (create your branch)

Choose a slug: lowercase, no spaces. This can be your name or an alias. Example: change people/<your-slug> in the command below to people/alex. From here on out replace <your-slug> with your chosen name.

    git checkout -b people/<your-slug>

Confirm:

    git status

# Exercise: step 3 (edit the page)

Edit the root index.html (and optionally style.css, assets/).

Make a visible change first:

- Change the name to your name (or your alias)

Then check changes:

    git diff
    git status

# Exercise: step 4 (stage + commit)

    git add index.html
    git commit -m "Customize profile page for <your-slug>"

If you added assets:

    git add assets/
    git commit -m "Add assets for <your-slug>"

Small commits win. One change = one deposit.

# Exercise: step 5 (push your branch)

    git push -u origin people/<your-slug>

(Again, change <your-slug>!)

If prompted for credentials, use your Forgejo login method.

# Exercise: step 6 (view live)

Open the gallery:

- https://braids.hackersanddesigners.nl/

Find your card:

- people/<your-slug>/

Iterate:

edit -> status -> add -> commit -> push -> refresh

# Common problems (fast fixes)

Wrong branch:

    git branch
    git checkout people/<your-slug>

Nothing staged:

    git status
    git add index.html

Push rejected (main protected):

- You are on main. Switch to your branch.

Auth issues:

- HTTPS: check username/password

# Concept recap in archiving terms

- commit = deposit (with minimal metadata)
- log = inventory / chain of custody
- diff = conservation report (what changed)
- branch = parallel dossier
- push = share publicly / deposit to institutional archive (remote)

# Suggested “good enough” commit messages

Bad:

- "update"
- "stuff"
- "changes"

Better:

- "Add animated gif and profile link"
- "Change background and typography"
- "Fix broken image path"

Rule: message should still make sense in 6 months.

# Optional extension (if time remains)

- Compare two branches visually (gallery view)
- Show git log to narrate your work as a documented process

# Wrap-up

Learn more:

- Learn Git Branching
- Oh My Git

End: remind participants their branches will be removed after the workshop.