Introduction to Git with Scott Chacon of GitHub

This talk introduces the Git Version Control System by looking at what Git is doing when you run the commands you need to do basic version control with it. We'll look at how to use Git to do the basics, while seeing how it differs from Subversion, what staging and committing actually looks like, how it stores it's data, how it branches and merges so nicely and how it talks to a server when pushing and fetching. Then we'll look at how to look at your history with log in interesting ways. This should help Git newbies get acquainted with the popular VCS and other Git users get a glimpse of what's happening under the hood.

[SergioTerroso]

It's almost 2025 and this has been the best Git introduction i've ever seen. I've learnt more about Git in this slightly-over-one-hour video than in all the years I've been working as a developer!

[laytonmiller]

This is the single best explanation of the core git concepts I've seen. Makes sense given who is giving the talk but it is incredibly clear.

[rothbardfreedom]

"Has anybody been to GitHub?"
This shows how this talk is old (and gold).

[positronalpha]

10 years later and this is still the best talk about Git out there. I wish every Git user would take the time to watch this, because if you don't understand these very basic concepts, you'll mistakenly believe that Git is complicated or hard to use.

[floverdevel]

After all these years, this is still the best introduction to Git I have ever watched.
Great job Scott 👌🏻👏🏻
Still today I recommend this video to every of my new colleagues 😊

[teveg]

What a brilliant presentation. It's fast and I won't pretend I didn't have to rewind a few times, but think of it as a reference. Scott is an excellent communicator. Thanks for sharing. Git really is incredible. 

[john-smf]

"git lol" is an alias set up by Scott for "git log --oneline --graph --decorate". He starts explaining it at 1:10:28.

[arunm]

I was in 8th grade when this vid came out, In 2021 I am learning from this video now. Time really flies! Great video!

[hiralbest]

Cleared most of my doubts for git.... I feel confident for using git after watching this video....

[troglodyto]

this is a great tutorial because thsi guy is so passionate and knowledgeable, and his mind is 100% on this, and his little asides are as useful as the main thread. best tutorial. the behind the scenes stuff was itneresting too

[nagpoore]

Indeed a great lecture, didn't fell sleep watching this log tech video after such a long time! Tremendous energy...

[DrowsyDowell]

I just finished my OS class in college, one day my professor asked "so...how many of you know how to use git?" everyone in the class said they either never had used it before, or we barely knew how to use it. He just looked at all of us and was like "we as professors have failed you...git is super important...everyone, if you're interested, write me an email saying that you want a class on, or at least an introduction to git. I'll compile all of them and walk into the dean's office and start that conversation"

but since this is my last year in school, I'll be turning to youtube

[martinharrisFTW]

this is by far the BEST talk on git. thank you!

[stableschippenham]

Excellent presentation, rich with information and very clear, thank you

[jmg]

I have a TFS background so I was really struggling to understand GIT. This finally got me over the hump. Great video, Thanks!!!

[CoreyRothwell]

The basics explained were much easier to understand in this video than in the pro git book.

[jfedgar]

This was the best combination of both conceptual knowledge + implementation that I have seen.

For people who are still confused, there is now a tryGit interactive walk-through at github/codeacademy (trygit.github.com i think)

[fabianrothfuchs]

Your engery is tremendous! Although I had to loop some parts, I never got tired like I do on seminars ... :-)

[MrJanzurich]

A quite good introduction, to understand git and how git works internally and what are the benefits of git.

[MrDavidFitzgerald]

I prefer this speed of talk. It's much easier to repeat fast bits than to reliably skip slow bits.