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Git Guide for Beginners

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I've provided this guide because as someone who came out of arts, I remember struggling with Github projects and how to use them in my own work. I hope it helps.

Table of Contents

What is Git?

Git is like a very powerful "Save As" for your projects. It: - Keeps track of all changes you make - Lets you go back to any previous version - Helps you get updates without losing your changes - Makes it easy to share improvements with others

Git vs. GitHub: What's the Difference?

  • Git is the tool that tracks changes on your computer
  • GitHub is the website where people share their Git projects
  • In other words:
  • Git = The tool you write with
  • GitHub = The library where you share your writing

Why is Node Weaver on Github?

Downloading Node Weaver using Git gives you several benefits: 1. Easy Updates: Get new features and fixes with a single command 2. Safe Customization: Make your own changes without breaking updates 3. Contribution: Share your improvements if you want to 4. History: Track changes you make to your tools

Installing Git

Windows

  1. Download Git from git-scm.com
  2. Run the installer
  3. Use these recommended settings:
  4. When asked about line ending conversions, choose "Checkout as-is, commit as-is"
  5. For the default editor, choose "Visual Studio Code" if you have it, or "Notepad" if not
  6. For everything else, the defaults are fine

Mac

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type git --version
  3. If Git isn't installed, macOS will prompt you to install it

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git

Common Git Tasks

Getting Node Weaver for the First Time

# 1. Open Terminal (Mac/Linux) or Git Bash (Windows)
# 2. Go to where you want to install. For example, the Documents folder
cd Documents

# 3. Get Node Weaver
git clone https://github.com/edwardmakesthings/Node-Weaver.git

Updating Node Weaver

# 1. Open Terminal/Git Bash in your Node Weaver folder
# 2. Get updates
git pull origin main

What If You Made Changes?

If you've modified any Node Weaver files and try to update, Git will warn you. Here's what to do:

  1. If you want to keep your changes: 

    # Save your changes temporarily
git stash

# Get updates
git pull origin main

# Bring your changes back
git stash pop

  2. If you want to discard your changes: 

    # Reset everything to original state
git reset --hard

# Get updates
git pull origin main

Visual Git Tools

If you prefer using a visual interface instead of commands, try these free tools: - GitHub Desktop - Simplest option, works with GitHub - Sourcetree - More powerful, but more complex - Visual Studio Code - Good if you also write code

Troubleshooting

"Git isn't recognized as a command"

  • Windows: Reinstall Git and make sure to select "Add to PATH" during installation
  • Mac/Linux: Make sure Git is installed by running git --version

"Permission denied" Errors

  • Make sure you're not in a protected folder (like Program Files on Windows)
  • Try running your terminal/Git Bash as administrator

"Refusing to merge unrelated histories"

# Use this command instead of regular pull
git pull origin main --allow-unrelated-histories

Changes Not Downloading

  1. Make sure you're connected to the internet
  2. Try forcing an update: 
    git fetch --all
git reset --hard origin/main

Still Stuck?

  1. Check if others had the same issue in the Issues section
  2. If not, feel free to open a new issue
  3. Include:
  4. What you were trying to do
  5. The exact error message
  6. What you've tried so far

Remember: Everyone was a beginner once. Don't be afraid to ask for help!