You all want to start building things, but this is important. Hear me out. If something goes wrong, if something breaks with your codebase, it’s probably too late. Cursor has built-in features to prevent losing code due to incorrect code generation or other issues. In the developer world, we have a standard tool called Git, and we’re going to use it. For this lesson, we’ll cover two or three approaches to using Git effectively to back up, revert, and store code safely. This is crucial because AI often produces incorrect code, which can be frustrating. Git saves time and is beneficial, especially for managing code in dynamic environments. If you’re experienced with Git or a seasoned software developer, you may already know the basics covered here, though there might still be one or two things to pick up. This session will cover Git basics, not advanced tutorials, so let’s dive into safeguarding our codebase. Before we dive into building things, we need to cover a crucial topic: Git. This is essential because if something goes wrong with your code, it’s often too late to fix it without losing work or scrambling to find backups. Cursor has built-in features that help prevent code loss due to incorrect AI generation or errors, but Git is the go-to tool for developers to back up, revert, and manage code safely. Let’s walk through how Git can help protect your codebase, especially in dynamic environments where errors can pop up unexpectedly. In this lesson, we’ll cover two main approaches to using Git effectively to ensure your code is safe, backed up, and easy to recover. If you’re new to Git, this will be a foundational overview to get you started. If you’re already familiar, think of this as a refresher—there may still be a tip or two to help streamline your workflow. Let’s start with the basics: First, why use Git? AI often produces errors or generates incorrect code, which can disrupt your workflow or even cause the entire project to break. Git gives you the power to track every change, store multiple versions of your project, and easily revert to an earlier version if something goes wrong. This is invaluable for quick fixes, reducing frustration, and maintaining a steady workflow. Git Basics for Safe Coding. Let’s get hands-on. Git works by creating a series of “snapshots” of your code, also known as commits. You’ll make a commit every time you reach a good stopping point or complete a specific piece of functionality. Think of each commit as a saved state of your project. To start using Git in any project, initialize it to set up Git’s tracking. After you’ve made changes to your code, stage these changes and then commit them, which saves a version of your project that you can return to anytime. Backing Up and Branching. One of the most powerful features of Git is branching. Branching lets you work on a feature or bug fix without affecting your main codebase. Create a branch to develop freely and, once you’re done, merge it back into your main codebase. This keeps the main branch stable while you experiment. Reverting and Undoing Changes. If something goes wrong, Git has two main tools for reverting: reset and revert. Use reset to remove recent commits if you haven’t shared your changes yet. This essentially rewinds your project to a previous commit. For shared code, revert undoes a specific commit without altering your commit history, making it safer in team projects. Keeping a Clean History with Git. For a well-maintained project, try to commit often and keep messages clear and descriptive. This helps you and others understand each step in the project’s evolution and makes troubleshooting easier. If you accidentally commit a bug, you can quickly pinpoint and reverse it without affecting the rest of the project. Git is a powerful safety net that saves time, reduces frustration, and lets you code confidently, knowing that every version of your project is saved and accessible. That’s it for this overview; in the next lesson, we’ll get into practical Git workflows to help you manage real-world coding projects.