An overview of what Git is and why it is the most popular version control system.
Git is a distributed version control system (DVCS) that helps developers track changes in their source code during software development. It was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 for the development of the Linux kernel. Unlike centralized systems where the entire project history is stored on a single server, Git gives every developer a full copy of the repository, including its entire history. This 'distributed' nature means you can work completely offline, committing changes locally. When you're ready, you can synchronize your work with a central remote repository. Git is incredibly powerful because it allows for non-linear development through branching, enabling multiple developers to work on different features simultaneously without interfering with each other's work. It's renowned for its speed, data integrity, and support for complex workflows, making it the standard for version control in the software industry today.