How to Learn Git Online

If you’re just starting to learn a new skill, you can find dozens of tips and resources online; learning Git is no different.Git is used to document and archive changes made to source code files. It is a vital tool for collaborative development processes and data storage. If you’ve always wanted to learn Git, there are plenty of options at your fingertips. From free tutorials to live classes, your options are outlined here so you can decide how to learn in a way that works best for you. 

What is Git?

Git is an open-source programming tool that allows users to effortlessly track the changes made during the early stages of software development. It allows individual programs to keep a record of the changes that they have made to easily restore or back-up earlier versions of their code and it allows teams of developers to record the changes that individual members make to a file or program. Designed to support distributed non-linear workflow, Git allows programmers to create non-linear histories and branched records of how a program has been developed over its time in Git.

Developed in 2005 for Linux, Git has since become one of the most commonly used distributed version control software. In 2022, nearly 94% of computer programmers report using Git as a vital part of their regular programming activities. This means that learning Git is an important skill for anyone hoping to undertake collaborative development projects, particularly in open-source communities where it is expected that many development histories will be documented using Git.

Read more about what Git is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Git?

Git can be used to ensure that you have a detailed record of all the changes being made to a file of code. Individual users can take advantage of this documentation to quickly restore or reconstruct prior versions of code or to see where specific changes were made if those changes came with unintended consequences. Groups of developers can use Git to collaborate more effectively on a shared file as the system will keep track of all the changes made independently, providing a stable record of how each developer impacted the file over time.

In addition, thanks to the prevalence of GitHub, learning Git will significantly expand a developer's ability to store and share their software. Since each instance of Git on a computer stores its own directory and history, the documentation on your programs is not operating at the whims of an external source or mainframe, making the histories far more stable. In addition, GitHub lets users publish and share code effortlessly, making community-driven collaboration all the more productive. Git and GitHub help fuel community-driven software development, and learning how to use these tools will ensure that you, too, can participate in these projects.

Live Online Git Training

Students not located near a major city or training center but still want to learn Git and web development will want to consider online learning options. These classes are taught by live instructors who can interface directly with students. Students can ask questions, receive instructor feedback, and get direct assistance when troubles arise. The drawback to these classes is that some students miss the directed focus of the classroom space, and these classes will require students to maintain and acquire their own tech.

Noble Desktop offers all of its in-person classes through live online Git classes. These classes are taught by the same expert instructors who provide in-person instruction and they offer all of the benefits of Noble classes, including small class sizes and free retakes within a year. Many students find that the ability to learn from their homes is a tangible advantage when they aren’t losing out on the advantages of live instruction. Students may also wish to consider the options available through online service providers such as Thinkful and DevMountain.

On-Demand Git Classes

Git is one of the few skills where on-demand training may be preferable for a large number of students. Since Git is an efficiency tool rather than a necessary programming skill, live classes rarely teach only Git skills. Instead, the training is rolled up into a more extensive introductory coding and web development course. However, since they tend to be less involved and easier to produce, on-demand course providers are more likely to have options for students who only want to learn Git (presumably because they are comfortable with their web design skills).

However, these courses have the drawback of lacking a live instructor to guide students through learning Git. Even though Git is relatively easy to use, it is still a complicated bit of software, meaning that some students will still find it challenging to learn. If students encounter problems with online training, they will need to find other routes to clear up these difficulties. Plus, students must be judicious in which course they enroll in since applications like Git change frequently enough that even reputable service providers may have outdated videos.

Free Intro Courses & Tutorials

In a professional training environment, Git is rarely learned on its own. Rather, students taking web development or programming courses will learn the basic principles of Git during their lessons. students looking to learn more about Git without committing to a development course will want to consider the free options available. Noble Desktop provides a brief tutorial in the What is Git & What is GitHub video offered on their official YouTube page. This short course gives an overview of the basic features and functions of Git, making it an ideal place for students to learn how to use the software application.

Students may also want to explore the free introductory options available through other service providers such as Udemy and Coursera. These providers offer asynchronous, on-demand learning options for students who want to learn Git without investing in a full web development or software engineering course.

Read about more free Git videos and online tutorials.

Comparing Online Methods with In-Person Learning 

There are a lot of different ways that students can go about learning Git, since it is such a ubiquitous program and is utilized in so many fields. However, since it is a workflow and documentation tool, students won’t have a lot of options for learning Git on its own. Git is often taught as part of a core curriculum in a web development class. The main concern regarding different training formats will depend on how much programming training you want to pair with your Git instruction.

Students seeking programming instruction will want to look at their options for live instruction seminars, which are available in person and online. These courses are taught by experienced instructors in private physical or digital classrooms, ensuring that class sizes are small and that students can work directly with their instructors. These courses are ideally suited for students who want to learn how to code while learning Git, given that these classes tend to be the most immersive training options available. These are the most expensive classes and require students to attend regularly scheduled courses.

The primary difference between them is logistical. Recent advances in online teaching have made it so that live online learning isn’t inherently inferior to in-person learning. Instead, it will depend on what the student prioritizes in their training. Students who feel they need to be in a classroom with other students will want to prioritize in-person options. Students who find it less difficult to learn independently will benefit from online classes. In-person classes come with the added cost of a commute, while online students will need to supply their tech, which is less of an immediate cost concern when learning Git, but still worth considering.

Students with enough prior coding experience that they don’t feel a web design education is necessary, but who still want to learn Git, may want to look towards on-demand classes. These classes are shorter, self-paced lessons that let students control the direction that their learning takes. One element of this direction is that students can focus on specific skills, such as Git, that would typically only be taught as part of a more extensive live training program. This makes them an ideal option for students who want to learn Git quickly. The drawback is that these courses don’t offer the benefits of live instruction, such as assistance from an instructor or dynamic lessons. This means that students who run into trouble in their Git training will need to find other sources of assistance, and they may have difficulty ensuring that the lessons and assistance they receive are up to date.

Tips to Succeed When Learning Git Online

students looking to succeed in their online Git training may wish to take a few steps to ensure that their training is as productive as possible. Students will need to ensure that their workspace is controlled and that they are prepared to work outside of the classroom space.

Students tend to underestimate how vital the curated space of the classroom can be for their learning experience. The classroom space is designed to funnel students' attention towards their instructor and minimize outside distractions. Outside of the classroom, students will need to take their attention and focus into account when building their workspace. This may be as simple as closing some windows or moving to a different room in your apartment or it could be as complicated as finding someone to watch your kids for you during a class session. Every student must judge how much of an issue this will cause.

Students will also need to honestly self-assess how likely they are to become distracted by the potential to do other work during a Git class. Studies repeatedly show that students think they are better at multitasking than they are, reducing overall productivity. Students should seriously consider how much this may pose a problem to them and take measures to address this temptation. This might be as easy as exerting self-control or it may require students to take steps to restrict their ability to do other tasks during an online class.

Finally, students taking on-demand courses focusing on Git will want to do some personal research to find resources to help supplement their lack of a live instructor. Even skilled programmers might have challenges learning Git; without a live instructor, students will be on their own when overcoming those challenges. This will require students to gauge the quality of the resources they find, which can be a challenge in and of itself.

Key Insights

• Students looking to learn how to use Git, the most commonly used distributed version control application in the programming world, may want to consider online learning as an alternative to in-person learning.
• Students can either learn through live online training or through on-demand training courses.
• Live online learning is ideal for students who need to learn how to code, as Git is often taught in web development training classes.
• On-demand learning options are ideal for students who know how to code and just want to learn Git.
• Students learning online must consider how their learning environment differs from a classroom learning environment and prepare accordingly.
• Students who want to learn Git and web development through live online instruction should consider the comprehensive training options available through Noble Desktop.

Learn Git with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Since Git is an open-source efficiency tool, you’ll rarely find a course that strictly teaches students how to use it. Instead, students will learn Git as an essential complementary skill in more formal web development or programming course. This means that students looking to learn are aspiring to be programmers or developers, meaning that web development training will likely be a part of their future. To assist with this, Noble offers a wide variety of web development courses designed to fit your needs as a student.

At Noble, students can learn Git as part of their front end development training curriculum. In these training courses, students will learn the techniques required to program the client-facing, interactive web application elements, such as a webpage. In these classes, students will primarily focus on learning how to program using HTML/CSS and JavaScript, though advanced courses will also teach languages like React. In Noble’s Front End Web Development Certificate program, students will receive hands-on training in several important web development skills, including tracking and managing file changes using Git. With this training, students will be able to see how their programs develop over time, documenting a history of their work, and they will be able to see how Git is used to assist them in collaborative development projects. Since this is a career-focused course, the class assumes no prior coding experience, making this a good place to start for students hoping to enter the field of web development.

Noble also offers a more immersive Full Stack Web Development Certificate program that will teach students all the skills needed to work as Full Stack Web Developers (developers who handle both the client- and server-side elements of a webpage). While a part of this will be learning how to use Git to track and document changes to code, the vast majority of the course is comprised of intensive web development training courses in which students will learn HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Node, Express, MongoDB, React, and SQL. This course is perfect for anyone who wants to learn all the essential aspects of web development. Since this is a career-focused course, students will receive professionalization assistance, including one-on-one career mentorship and portfolio-building seminars.