Version control is a system that records changes to a file or set of files over time so that you can recall specific versions later. Git is a distributed version control system that is widely used for source code management in software development. In this section, we will explore how to use Git with PowerShell to manage your scripts and projects effectively.

1. Repository: A storage location for your project files and their history.
2. Commit: A snapshot of your project at a specific point in time.
3. Branch: A parallel version of your repository, allowing you to work on different features or fixes simultaneously.
4. Merge: Combining changes from different branches.
5. Remote: A version of your repository hosted on the internet or another network.

1. Windows: Download and install Git from git-scm.com.
2. Verify Installation: Open PowerShell and run:

   git --version
   

1. Set your username:

   git config --global user.name "Your Name"
   

2. Set your email:

   git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
   

1. Create a new directory:

   mkdir MyPowerShellProject
   cd MyPowerShellProject
   

2. Initialize Git:

   git init
   

1. Create a new script file:

   New-Item -Path . -Name "script.ps1" -ItemType "file"
   

2. Add the file to the staging area:

   git add script.ps1
   

3. Commit the file:

   git commit -m "Initial commit"
   

1. View the commit log:

   git log
   

1. Create a new branch:

   git branch new-feature
   

2. Switch to the new branch:

   git checkout new-feature
   

3. Merge the branch back into the main branch:

   git checkout main
   git merge new-feature
   

1. Add a remote repository:

   git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo.git
   

2. Push changes to the remote repository:

   git push -u origin main
   

1. Create a new PowerShell script:

   New-Item -Path . -Name "example.ps1" -ItemType "file"
   

2. Initialize a Git repository:

   git init
   

3. Add the script to the repository:

   git add example.ps1
   

4. Commit the script:

   git commit -m "Add example script"
   

5. Create a new branch for a feature:

   git branch feature-branch
   git checkout feature-branch
   

6. Modify the script and commit the changes:

   Add-Content -Path example.ps1 -Value "# New feature"
   git add example.ps1
   git commit -m "Add new feature"
   

7. Merge the feature branch back into the main branch:

   git checkout main
   git merge feature-branch
   

1. Forgetting to stage changes: Always use git add to stage your changes before committing.
2. Descriptive commit messages: Use clear and descriptive commit messages to make your commit history easy to understand.
3. Regular commits: Commit your changes frequently to keep track of your progress and make it easier to identify issues.

In this section, we covered the basics of using Git with PowerShell, including setting up Git, basic commands, branching, merging, and working with remote repositories. By integrating Git into your workflow, you can manage your PowerShell scripts more effectively, collaborate with others, and maintain a history of your project changes. In the next module, we will explore best practices and advanced tips to further enhance your PowerShell scripting skills.