Learn what version control is, why it matters for your startup, and how to understand your team's Git workflow.
September 17, 2024 9 min read
Your developers mention "Git," "branches," "merging," and "pull requests." You nod along, but you're not sure why any of this matters for your product.
Version control—Git specifically—is how developers track changes to code. It's infrastructure that enables collaboration, prevents disasters, and preserves history. Understanding it helps you follow development discussions and recognize good practices.
This guide explains Git conceptually. You don't need to use it yourself, but knowing what it does helps you work with technical teams.
What Version Control Actually Does
Version control is like track changes for code, but much more powerful.
Complete History
Every change to your codebase is recorded. Who changed what, when they changed it, and why. This history is permanent and searchable.
If something breaks, developers can look back at what changed. If you need to undo something, the previous version exists. If you want to know why code works a certain way, the history often explains.
Parallel Work
Multiple developers can work on the same codebase simultaneously without stepping on each other's work. Version control manages the coordination automatically.
Without version control, collaboration is chaos. Two developers changing the same file would overwrite each other's work. Version control tracks both sets of changes and helps combine them.
Safe Experimentation
Developers can try new approaches without affecting the working product. If the experiment works, they merge it in. If it fails, they throw it away. The main product never sees the failed experiments.
This safety encourages better work. Developers try solutions without fear of breaking things.
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The codebase is stored in multiple places—on developers' machines and on hosting services like GitHub. If a computer dies, the code is safe. If someone accidentally deletes something, it can be restored.
Key Concepts Explained
Several Git concepts come up in development discussions.
Repository (Repo)
A repository is a project's complete codebase plus its entire history. "The repo" is shorthand for all the code your team is working on.
Repositories typically live on hosting services like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. Developers copy the repository to their machines to work on it.
Commits
A commit is a saved snapshot of changes. Developers make commits as they work—each commit captures a meaningful unit of progress.
Think of commits like save points in a video game. You can always return to any previous commit.
Good commits have descriptive messages explaining what changed and why. Reading commit history should tell the story of how the code evolved.
Branches
Branches are parallel versions of the codebase. The main branch (often called "main" or "master") contains the official version. Developers create new branches to work on changes.
Working on a branch is like editing a copy. Changes on the branch don't affect the main version until explicitly combined.
Common patterns:
Main branch: The production-ready code
Feature branches: Each new feature develops on its own branch
Bug fix branches: Fixes develop separately from features
This separation lets developers work independently and integrate only when ready.
Merging
Merging combines changes from one branch into another. When a feature is complete, its branch merges into main.
Simple merges are automatic. Git recognizes the changes and combines them. Complex merges—when multiple developers changed the same code—require human decisions.
Merge conflicts happen when Git can't automatically combine changes. Developers resolve conflicts by choosing which version to keep or combining them manually.
Pull Requests (PRs)
A pull request is a formal proposal to merge changes. The developer says: "I have changes on this branch. Please review and merge them into main."
Pull requests enable code review. Other developers see the proposed changes, leave comments, request modifications, and eventually approve the merge.
This process catches bugs, maintains quality, and shares knowledge across the team.
Cloning
Cloning creates a copy of a repository on a developer's machine. Each developer clones the repo to work locally, then shares changes back.
All developers work with the same codebase but on their own machines.
Why Git Matters for Your Business
Git isn't just developer preference. It affects your business.
Disaster Recovery
Without version control, losing a developer's laptop could lose weeks of work. With Git, code lives in multiple places. Hardware failure is an inconvenience, not a catastrophe.
Team Scaling
Adding developers to a project without version control creates coordination nightmares. With Git, new developers clone the repository and start contributing immediately. The system handles coordination.
Accountability
Git records who changed what and when. If something breaks, you can identify what changed. If you need to understand a decision, you can find who made it.
This isn't about blame—it's about information. Understanding change history helps debugging and decision-making.
Code Ownership
Your Git repository is your product's source code. When you own the repository, you own the code. Make sure your development team sets up the repository in your accounts, not theirs.
What Good Git Practices Look Like
Recognize these signs of professional Git usage:
Frequent, Small Commits
Developers should commit regularly—multiple times per day. Small commits are easier to understand and easier to undo if needed.
Warning sign: A developer going days without committing, then pushing massive changes. Large commits are hard to review and risky to merge.
Descriptive Commit Messages
Good commit messages explain what changed and why. "Fixed the login bug by validating email format before submission" is useful. "Fixed bug" is not.
Warning sign: Commits with messages like "updates," "changes," or "WIP" (work in progress). These messages provide no useful information.
Branch-Based Development
Developers should work on branches, not directly on main. Main should always be deployable—no half-finished features.
Warning sign: All developers committing directly to main. This leads to instability and makes collaboration harder.
Pull Request Reviews
Changes should go through review before merging. Another developer reads the code, checks for problems, and approves.
Warning sign: Developers merging their own code without review. This skips quality control.
Protected Main Branch
The main branch should require pull requests to modify. No one should push directly to main.
Warning sign: Anyone can commit to main at any time. This invites accidents.
How to Talk About Git With Your Team
You don't need Git expertise, but useful questions include:
"Is our repository in our company account?"
The repository should be in accounts you control. If a contractor leaves, you should retain access to the code.
"Who has access to the repository?"
You should know who can access your codebase. Former team members should be removed promptly.
"Is main protected?"
Code should require review before merging to main.
"How often do developers commit?"
Frequent commits (daily or more) are healthy. Infrequent commits suggest problems.
"Can I see the repository?"
Even if you won't read code, having access lets you verify the repository exists and see activity.
Common Git Workflows
Teams organize their Git usage differently. Here are common patterns:
GitHub Flow
Simple workflow: main branch plus feature branches. Developers branch from main, build features, open pull requests, and merge back to main.
Good for: Small teams, continuous deployment, MVPs.
Git Flow
More complex: main branch, develop branch, feature branches, release branches. More structure and ceremony around releases.
Good for: Larger teams, scheduled releases, products with complex release processes.
Trunk-Based Development
Everyone commits to main frequently, with short-lived branches or none at all. Requires excellent testing and continuous integration.
Good for: Experienced teams with strong CI/CD, rapid iteration.
For most startups building MVPs, GitHub Flow provides sufficient structure without unnecessary complexity.
Git Hosting Services
Git repositories need to live somewhere accessible. Common options:
GitHub
The most popular option. Excellent interface, large community, good integration with other tools. Free for basic use; paid for advanced features.
Most startups use GitHub.
GitLab
Comprehensive platform including Git hosting plus CI/CD and project management. Popular in enterprise settings.
Bitbucket
Atlassian's offering, integrates well with Jira. Common in companies using Atlassian tools.
All three provide similar core functionality. GitHub's popularity makes it the default choice for most startups.
Repository Access and Security
Your repository contains your product. Protect it accordingly.
Owner Access
You (or your company) should own the repository. If contractors or agencies set it up, ensure ownership transfers to you.
Access Levels
Control who can do what:
Read: Can view code but not change it
Write: Can make changes through pull requests
Admin: Can manage settings, access, and branch protections
Be intentional about who has admin access.
Remove Former Team Members
When developers leave, remove their access immediately. This is basic security hygiene.
Backup Considerations
GitHub and similar services are reliable, but having a backup doesn't hurt. Some teams maintain copies in multiple locations.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong
Git provides safety nets for common problems.
Accidental Deletion
Code deleted accidentally can be restored from history. Nothing in Git is truly gone (until explicitly purged).
Bad Merge
A merge that breaks things can be reverted. Git records the state before the merge and can return to it.
Lost Work
Work committed to Git is safe even if a computer dies. Uncommitted work is vulnerable—another reason for frequent commits.
Overwritten Changes
If two developers change the same code, Git forces resolution before merging. Changes can't silently overwrite each other.
These safety nets don't guarantee protection—mistakes are still possible. But Git makes recovery much easier than working without version control.
Key Takeaways
Git and version control are foundational infrastructure for software development. Understanding them helps you work effectively with technical teams.
Version control tracks all changes to your codebase with complete history. You can always see what changed and revert if needed.
Git enables collaboration by managing parallel work from multiple developers without conflicts.
Good practices include frequent commits, descriptive messages, branch-based development, and code review through pull requests.
Your repository is your product. Ensure it's in accounts you control with appropriate access management.
GitHub is the standard for most startups. Verify your team is using it or a similar service.
At NextBuild, we follow Git best practices on every project—protected branches, required reviews, and proper access controls. If you're unsure about your repository setup or want to verify your team's practices, we can review your setup and recommend improvements.
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