Code Commit

Definition

Code commit refers to the process of submitting changes made to a code repository, which is a centralized storage location for source code and related files. It involves adding, modifying, or deleting files in a repository, and then creating a record of those changes to maintain a history of the project's development.

Analogy

Imagine a group of writers working on a novel together. They all have access to a shared folder containing the manuscript. When a writer makes changes to the manuscript, they "commit" those changes by saving the updated version in the shared folder. This way, the other writers can see the changes and continue working on the novel without any confusion. In this analogy, the shared folder is like a code repository, and the act of saving the updated manuscript is like a code commit.

In other words

A code commit is the process of saving changes made to a project's source code in a shared repository, allowing team members to collaborate effectively.

Why is a code commit important?

It's one thing to know what code commit is, but that is worthless if you don't know why you should know what a code repository is in the first place. Let's break down the importance of this tech term based on two high-level categories. We'll walk through an explanation as well as provide a score, 1-10, that shows you how much you should care about code commit.

Pre-Product: 2/10

If you do not have a product yet, code commit might not be your top priority. However, understanding the concept can still be beneficial. As you move forward with your idea and start building a team, having a solid grasp of code commit will help you manage your project more efficiently and ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to development.

Live Product: 8/10

If you have a live product, code commit is crucial for maintaining and improving your product. With a live product, multiple developers may be working on the same codebase, and without proper code commit practices, it can be challenging to keep track of changes and avoid conflicts. Code commit allows your team to collaborate effectively, track progress, and easily revert to previous versions if needed.

Code commit use cases

So you know what code commit is, by definition. You know if you should care about it or not depending on your situation as a business/company/product. To dig in deeper, we will walk through some tools and processes so we can make sure you really have a solid grasp on code commit.

Git and GitHub

Git is a popular version control system that allows developers to track changes in their code and collaborate on projects. GitHub is a web-based platform that provides Git repository hosting and additional features, such as issue tracking and code review. Together, Git and GitHub make it easy for developers to commit code, collaborate with others, and manage their projects.

Pull Requests

In the context of code commit, a pull request is a way for developers to propose changes to a project's codebase. A developer can create a pull request to suggest changes, discuss them with the team, and then merge the changes into the main branch once they have been reviewed and approved. This process ensures that code changes are thoroughly reviewed and helps maintain the quality of the product.

Key Takeaways:

1. Code commit is the process of saving changes made to a project's source code in a shared repository.
2. If you do not yet have a product, understanding code commit can still be beneficial for future collaboration and project management.
3. If you do have a product, code commit is crucial for maintaining and improving your product, as it enables effective collaboration and version tracking.
4. Tools like Git, GitHub, and pull requests are essential components of the code commit process.