Learn Git the Hard Way Course Syllabus

Overview: This hands-on course teaches Git through practical command-line exercises, building confidence in version control fundamentals and advanced workflows. With approximately 2.5 hours of interactive content, learners will progress through structured modules that emphasize doing over watching, mastering Git by solving real-world scenarios in an embedded terminal environment.

Module 1: Introduction & Course Walkthrough

Estimated time: 0.2 hours

• Understand the course structure and learning approach
• Recognize the importance of Git in modern development
• Learn how the 'Hard Way' interactive method works
• Run basic Git commands in the built-in terminal

Module 2: Git Basics

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Initialize a new Git repository
• Check status and track file changes
• Add and commit files to the repository
• View and inspect commit history using logs

Module 3: Cloning & Branching

Estimated time: 0.4 hours

• Clone remote repositories locally
• Create and switch between branches
• Understand and navigate detached HEAD states
• Recover from common branching mistakes

Module 4: Merging & Conflict Resolution

Estimated time: 0.3 hours

• Perform branch merges safely
• Detect and diagnose merge conflicts
• Resolve conflicts using Git commands
• Apply best practices for conflict resolution

Module 5: Git Stash & Interactive Staging

Estimated time: 0.3 hours

• Temporarily stash uncommitted changes
• Reapply stashed changes when needed
• Selectively stage code hunks interactively
• Use partial staging for fine-grained commits

Module 6: Reflog, Cherry-Pick & Rebase

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Recover lost commits using reflog
• Cherry-pick specific commits across branches
• Rebase branches for cleaner project history
• Understand when to rebase vs. merge

Module 7: Git Bisect & Remote Repo Management

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Use bisect to identify bug-introducing commits
• Configure and manage remote repositories
• Push and pull changes from remotes
• Create and manage pull requests

Module 8: Final Assessment & Advanced Practices

Estimated time: 0.2 hours

• Review core Git commands and workflows
• Apply advanced techniques in integrated challenges
• Complete a comprehensive final assessment

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic command-line interface (CLI) navigation
• No prior Git experience required
• Access to a modern web browser (course runs in-browser)

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Initialize, clone, and manage Git repositories confidently
• Use branching, merging, and rebasing effectively in team workflows
• Resolve conflicts and recover from common mistakes using reflog and stash
• Apply advanced debugging techniques like bisect and cherry-pick
• Demonstrate proficiency in Git for technical interviews and real-world projects