A repository (or 'repo') is a folder that Git is watching. Once initialized, Git can track every change made inside it.


Starting from scratch

Run the init command inside any folder to start tracking it with Git. This creates a hidden .git folder that stores your entire project history.

Checking repo status

The status command is the one you'll run constantly — it tells you which files have changed, which are staged, and which Git isn't tracking yet.

The .gitignore file

Some files should never be tracked — dependencies, build output, secrets. A .gitignore file tells Git which files and folders to skip entirely.

>_ COMMANDS YOU'LL USE
git initInitialize a new Git repository in the current folder
git statusSee the current state of your working directory
touch .gitignoreCreate a file to list what Git should ignore
💡Run git status often — it's the safest way to know exactly what Git is about to do before you do it.
⚠️Common mistake: Running git init in the wrong folder