What is Git, and why is it important to learn about?

Git is an open-source version control system (VCS) that allows software developers to track changes to code over time, including changes made by multiple users. This capability is important because coding typically requires a lot of trial and error as well as collaboration, and Git simplifies the process of merging changes from different developers, creating branching versions, comparing different versions of a program, and reverting changes when necessary. Git is by far the most popular VCS today, making familiarity with this program an essential skill for careers in software development. Professional developers and software engineers often use GitHub, which is a cloud-based Git repository that helps teams collaborate remotely. Unlike Git, GitHub is not a free, open-source program, but it is so valuable to facilitating distributed software development that Microsoft purchased it for $7.5 billion in 2018.

What kinds of careers can I have with a background in Git?

Because Git is such a widely-used developer tool, a background in its use is assumed knowledge for many programming and IT jobs. Moreover, since development at major tech and software companies is increasingly conducted in parallel by multiple programmers - especially with teams working remotely full-time during the current pandemic - a familiarity with GitHub is also expected for professionals in this field. Indeed, for aspiring developers and software engineers, a GitHub portfolio is an essential part of your resume. Along with mastery of programming skills like Python, skills in working with Git and GitHub can thus be a big part of your gateway to a high-paying job as a software developer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , software developers earned a median annual salary of $107,510 in 2019. Moreover, with jobs in this field projected to grow 22% from 2019 and 2029, this is one of the fastest growing careers today.

How do I know if learning Git is right for me?

Learning Git is well suited for developers looking to advance their programming skills and knowledge. It may be right for you if you want to understand the code that's behind a lot of the tools you likely use, learn more about C, which Git is written in, work with a codebase that's functional and minimalist, or work with code that doesn't take a long time to learn, then learning Git is probably a good fit for you.

What topics can I study that are related to Git?

You can certainly study C, C#, C++, or similar managed or unmanaged languages if you want to learn more about topics related to Git. Bash/UNIX shell scripting is also related to Git, as is GitHub, of course, the internet hosting provider for software and version control that use Git. Additional topics related to Git that you can study include version control, open-source software development, webpage creation, and project management.

Can I take free Git courses on Coursera?

Yes. You can start learning Git on Coursera for free in two ways: Preview the first module of many Git courses at no cost. This includes video lessons, readings, graded assignments, and Coursera Coach (where available). Start a 7-day free trial for Specializations or Coursera Plus. This gives you full access to all course content across eligible programs within the timeframe of your trial. If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in Git, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.

Top Git Courses - Learn Git Online

Explore the Git Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
Google
Introduction to Git and GitHub
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Continuous Integration, Software Versioning, Collaborative Software, Software Development Tools, Code Review, Issue Tracking, Command-Line Interface
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Getting Started with Git and GitHub
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Collaborative Software, Web Applications, Open Source Technology, Command-Line Interface, DevOps
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
1.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
LearnKartS
Complete Git
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Bitbucket, Version Control, Software Versioning, GitLab, Software Configuration Management, Collaborative Software, Integrated Development Environments, Software Development, Software Installation, Code Review, Devops Tools, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse (Software), File Management, Application Lifecycle Management, Linux, Release Management, Command-Line Interface
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
24 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Atlassian
Version Control with Git
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), Version Control, GitHub, Bitbucket, Software Configuration Management, Command-Line Interface, Code Review, Collaborative Software, Graphical Tools
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
3K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Packt
Git and GitHub Complete Master Class
Skills you'll gain: GitHub, Git (Version Control System), Version Control, Unix Commands, Unix Shell, Software Versioning, Linux Commands, Command-Line Interface, Code Review, Software Configuration Management, Software Development Tools, Development Environment, Secure Coding, File Management, Technical Documentation, Software Documentation
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
7 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Google
Google IT Automation with Python
Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Debugging, Cloud Management, Bash (Scripting Language), Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS), Cloud Services, Technical Communication, Unit Testing, Web Services, Email Automation, Automation, Python Programming, Interviewing Skills, Configuration Management, Professional Development, Scripting
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
51K reviews
Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

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Explore topics outside of work

Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Full Stack Software Developer
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, CI/CD, Software Development Life Cycle, Cloud-Native Computing, Software Architecture, Istio, Cloud Computing Architecture, Application Deployment, Kubernetes, React Redux, Node.JS, Responsive Web Design, Restful API, Django (Web Framework), Git (Version Control System), Server Side, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), Cloud Computing, Data Import/Export, Engineering Software
Build toward a degree
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
58K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Version Control
Skills you'll gain: Version Control, Unix Commands, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Linux Commands, Software Versioning, Command-Line Interface, Linux, Collaborative Software, File Management, Software Development Tools, Software Development, Web Development
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
3.8K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free Trial
IBM
Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
Skills you'll gain: CI/CD, Continuous Integration, Jenkins, Devops Tools, DevOps, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Continuous Delivery, OpenShift, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, IT Automation, Kubernetes, Containerization, Application Deployment, Automation, YAML
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
235 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Microsoft
Generative AI for Software Developers
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Microsoft Copilot, Prompt Engineering, Test Case, Responsible AI, Microsoft Visual Studio, Version Control, Code Review, Data Ethics, GitHub, Software Development Tools, Software Configuration Management, Software Documentation, Program Development, Integrated Development Environments, Maintainability, Computer Programming Tools, Artificial Intelligence, Development Environment, Project Management
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
123 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
Status: AI skills
IBM
IBM Java Developer
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Cloud-Native Computing, Software Development Life Cycle, Software Architecture, Hibernate (Java), Database Design, Responsive Web Design, Docker (Software), Containerization, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Microservices, CI/CD, Restful API, Java Programming, Engineering Software, Version Control, Database Management, Software Design
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
6.6K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Meta
Meta Full Stack Developer: Front-End & Back-End from Scratch
Skills you'll gain: Jest (JavaScript Testing Framework), Django (Web Framework), Version Control, Restful API, Responsive Web Design, Unix Commands, HTML and CSS, Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Relational Databases, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Database Management Systems, Bootstrap (Front-End Framework), React.js, Mobile Development, SQL, Database Design, API Design, Linux Commands, Python Programming
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
24K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months