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Git in Practice: Includes 66 Techniques
No matter how good a team is, it will flounder if it can't keep the code organized, which can be especially tough when members of the team are spread across multiple locations and time zones. Git is a version control system designed to facilitate work among distributed teams. Git's decentralized architecture, in which each developer maintains a copy of the repository, means that branching and committing are lightning fast. Git manages complex code merges, task switching, and project branching with minimal ceremony, allowing the focus to be on the code instead of tedious administrative tasks.
"Git in Practice" is a collection of tested techniques that will optimize the way teams manage their development projects. It begins with a brief refresher of the core version control concepts needed when using Git and moves on to the high-value features readers may not have explored yet. Then, it digs into cookbook-style techniques like history visualization and advanced branching--each presented in a problem-solution-discussion format. Finally, the book shows readers how to use Git to its full potential through configuration, team workflows, submodules, and using GitHub pull requests effectively.
Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.
"Git in Practice" is a collection of tested techniques that will optimize the way teams manage their development projects. It begins with a brief refresher of the core version control concepts needed when using Git and moves on to the high-value features readers may not have explored yet. Then, it digs into cookbook-style techniques like history visualization and advanced branching--each presented in a problem-solution-discussion format. Finally, the book shows readers how to use Git to its full potential through configuration, team workflows, submodules, and using GitHub pull requests effectively.
Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Mike McQuaid
3 books8 followersCTO and Cofounder of Workbrew. Former principal engineer at GitHub. Homebrew project leader. Git in Practice author.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 10, 2019
This book provides a detailed understanding of all features of Git that are useful when you’re using Git to manage source code for software projects. Book also discuss workflows and best practices useful in the real world to organize software projects when using Git.
History visualization, advanced branching and rewriting, submodules, and optimize configuration are some advanced topics that included in the book. Book is written in an easy-to-follow Problem/Solution/Discussion format and explains every command in detail.
History visualization, advanced branching and rewriting, submodules, and optimize configuration are some advanced topics that included in the book. Book is written in an easy-to-follow Problem/Solution/Discussion format and explains every command in detail.
February 18, 2015
This book is really aimed at the intermediate Git user. It is not an introduction to Git and in-depth examination of each Git command. It consists of a number of techniques aimed at doing specific tasks involving Git and as such provides great material that improves Git user productivity.
There is plenty in here around viewing Git logs and it is packed with useful advice in this department. Creating a Git alias that provides me with the ultimate Git log was once of the many techniques I put into practice straight away. This book provided ample opportunity to learn and implement new techniques based on solid practical experience that can lift the average Git user to the next level of understanding. Another simple problem solving idea introduced is the 'dotfiles' repository to enable consistent personal configuration across machines.
On top of learning new techniques, deeper understanding of existing Git commands was gained through practical techniques. I now posses a more profound sense of merge/rebase use case differences and the internals associated with these commands. Clear, practical and simple explanations help deepen understanding of Git functionality.
I would highly recommend this to Git users who do little more than checkout, commit and push who wish to gain a richer appreciation for Git functionality and capabilities. Vendoring submodules, hosting local repositories and best practices are among a number of topics covered. It certainly has helped me to become more effective using Git and able to share my new found insights and techniques from the moment I tried them out. Full of practical techniques that will help you grow as a Git user and soon have you getting maximum value from your version control system.
There is plenty in here around viewing Git logs and it is packed with useful advice in this department. Creating a Git alias that provides me with the ultimate Git log was once of the many techniques I put into practice straight away. This book provided ample opportunity to learn and implement new techniques based on solid practical experience that can lift the average Git user to the next level of understanding. Another simple problem solving idea introduced is the 'dotfiles' repository to enable consistent personal configuration across machines.
On top of learning new techniques, deeper understanding of existing Git commands was gained through practical techniques. I now posses a more profound sense of merge/rebase use case differences and the internals associated with these commands. Clear, practical and simple explanations help deepen understanding of Git functionality.
I would highly recommend this to Git users who do little more than checkout, commit and push who wish to gain a richer appreciation for Git functionality and capabilities. Vendoring submodules, hosting local repositories and best practices are among a number of topics covered. It certainly has helped me to become more effective using Git and able to share my new found insights and techniques from the moment I tried them out. Full of practical techniques that will help you grow as a Git user and soon have you getting maximum value from your version control system.
October 30, 2014
Yay, "Git in Practice" has been finally published (after several months of participation in MEAP program), so it's the best moment to try reviewing it. Does it really make sense to buy a book about Git if Pro-Git (http://git-scm.com/book/en/v2) is available for free? That was the question I wanted to answer.
Before I do that, just one small remark: V2 of Pro-Git has been published just few days ago and I didn't read it yet. All the comparison is based on Pro-Git V1.
Ok, so what about "Git in Practice"? What can you learn from this book?
1.) It doesn't try to cover whole topic, it focuses on what's important in everyday's usage. It's quite concise, but IMHO it succeeds in teaching exactly what's needed.
2.) It's quite good in introducing Git work models - the descriptions are quite clear & examples make sense. Some more diagrams would be nice though.
3.) There are few very interesting details I didn't see covered (maybe I've missed them) in any other Git book - practical details I personally found very useful:
* using update-index to temporarily ignore any changes in given files
* detailed description of using bisect
* rerere as a way to "teach" Git how to resolve recurring merge conflicts
* generating version tags with describe
* listing what branches contain a given commit (cherry)
To summarize: it's a very good book, but it doesn't provide *significant* additional value over Pro-Git. Hence, 4 stars.
Before I do that, just one small remark: V2 of Pro-Git has been published just few days ago and I didn't read it yet. All the comparison is based on Pro-Git V1.
Ok, so what about "Git in Practice"? What can you learn from this book?
1.) It doesn't try to cover whole topic, it focuses on what's important in everyday's usage. It's quite concise, but IMHO it succeeds in teaching exactly what's needed.
2.) It's quite good in introducing Git work models - the descriptions are quite clear & examples make sense. Some more diagrams would be nice though.
3.) There are few very interesting details I didn't see covered (maybe I've missed them) in any other Git book - practical details I personally found very useful:
* using update-index to temporarily ignore any changes in given files
* detailed description of using bisect
* rerere as a way to "teach" Git how to resolve recurring merge conflicts
* generating version tags with describe
* listing what branches contain a given commit (cherry)
To summarize: it's a very good book, but it doesn't provide *significant* additional value over Pro-Git. Hence, 4 stars.
July 31, 2025
Kudos to the author for having step 1 of most examples be setting your working directory and checking out the correct branch. Some of the description of github/gitlab's features is quite outdated, which possibly invalidated some of the arguments regarding merging/rebasing and team workflows. For example, remote branch and overall remote repo permissions are quite advanced now. Overall, this is a good intermediate text, though readers should check out the change log for git (e.g., git switch) and play around with github as well after reading.
December 14, 2014
I like this book a lot.
However it seems to me the book is not for absolute beginner. Before reading this book, you'll probably benefit from getting a visual (at least mentally) representation of the git tree structure. You could use this cool game which is a interactive tutorial for git(http://pcottle.github.io/learnGitBran...). After finishing all the tasks on the page, I found I get a clear picture of what are those commands really doing, and suddenly all the tips in the book make sense in retrospect.
Strongly recommended for everyone who wants to be more fluent in everyday work dealing with git.
However it seems to me the book is not for absolute beginner. Before reading this book, you'll probably benefit from getting a visual (at least mentally) representation of the git tree structure. You could use this cool game which is a interactive tutorial for git(http://pcottle.github.io/learnGitBran...). After finishing all the tasks on the page, I found I get a clear picture of what are those commands really doing, and suddenly all the tips in the book make sense in retrospect.
Strongly recommended for everyone who wants to be more fluent in everyday work dealing with git.
December 26, 2014
Good Practical Book, it does not attempt to teach you git from
the bottom up, sticking to practical examples and use cases, giving you
the necessary background to correctly understand why the following
set of commands were used and explaining what each one does.
It does not go deep into git, i.e, the plumbing part, but it does not
shy away from details when necessary.
In short, a good book that does exactly what it sets out to do.
Also easy to read as the language is accessible even for non native
speakers as myself.
the bottom up, sticking to practical examples and use cases, giving you
the necessary background to correctly understand why the following
set of commands were used and explaining what each one does.
It does not go deep into git, i.e, the plumbing part, but it does not
shy away from details when necessary.
In short, a good book that does exactly what it sets out to do.
Also easy to read as the language is accessible even for non native
speakers as myself.
August 6, 2018
I read this book very slowly, it is not very chatty, is a list of recipes hard to read. I needed to wait for holiday to finish it.
The book calls these little paragraphs techniques but they are not, they are the commands of git.
List of commands, when to use it, how to use it, example. Like documentation.
The last 2 chapter that explain how some git projects has been organized in term of branch and flows was good, more oriented on concept and more usefull.
The book calls these little paragraphs techniques but they are not, they are the commands of git.
List of commands, when to use it, how to use it, example. Like documentation.
The last 2 chapter that explain how some git projects has been organized in term of branch and flows was good, more oriented on concept and more usefull.
August 1, 2019
A good book to learn how to use Git to accomplish specific tasks. Kinda like a cookbook. So, while this is certainly not a book to pick up Git, this is a book to read after reading an introductory book like "Git for Humans" or "Jumpstart Git". Each "technique/recipe" is accompanied by sufficient details necessary to understand what is happening and the implications of the commands. An intermediate Git book that should be good enough for most Git users.
October 20, 2018
Gostei.
O autor nos guia do básico ao avançado, comando a comando de um jeito simples e exemplificado. Um fator de destaque pra mim é o formato dividido em "Técnicas", ele ajuda a organizar o aprendizado e relembrar o conceito no futuro.
O autor nos guia do básico ao avançado, comando a comando de um jeito simples e exemplificado. Um fator de destaque pra mim é o formato dividido em "Técnicas", ele ajuda a organizar o aprendizado e relembrar o conceito no futuro.
June 29, 2018
Great book about git! Just simple and clear tips how to use git with short descriptions. Written like a list of cases you need in your everyday work.
February 28, 2015
While the book lists a large number of valuable recipes for using Git in practice, I had a lot of trouble absorbing the knowledge. The book is probably great as a tutorial, but it fails as a reference or study guide.
At the end of the book, as different branching strategies came together, earlier chapters started to fir into place.
It's not that I hadn't read Git books before, or haven't used the tool, so many things were already familiar.
At the end of the book, as different branching strategies came together, earlier chapters started to fir into place.
It's not that I hadn't read Git books before, or haven't used the tool, so many things were already familiar.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews