Git for Humans | A friendly guide to version control by David Demaree

Git is infuriating, but don't worry — this book will help you make sense of it. From common version-tracking tasks to navigating merge conflicts, learn how to wield Git for collaboration on any digital project.

Get a handle on Git as veteran web developer David Demaree guides you through the command-line workflow, the nuances of repositories and branches, the elements of a solid commit message, and more. Pick up common version-tracking tasks, along with advice on trickier scenarios. You'll learn how to put Git to work for you, and work better with your clients, teams, and the open-source community.

Get the free PDF

Buy print / ePub

What's in the book

Thinking in Versions

A deep dive into the mental models used by Git and other version control tools, and why version control is better than all those design-final-final-REALFINAL.psd files you have laying around.

Git Basics

Learn Git's most essential commands and workflows, especially the ones for working with its most fundamental building block—the commit.

Branches

Learn what it means to work on everything everywhere all at once, using branches to cleanly separate different tracks of work within the same project.

Remotes

Take your Git repo to infinity—or, at least, GitHub or other hosting services—and beyond, learning about syncing workflows so you can collaborate like a pro.

History

How to manipulate time—or, at least, how to best use Git's powerful version-history features, from writing great commit messages to fix the dreaded "detached HEAD" state.

…and more!

A command reference, pointers to some of the Web's most interesting and unusual uses of Git, where you can host Git repos other than GitHub

Some nice words about Git for Humans

Even if you’re very comfortable working with code, Git is a concept that can take a few days just to get used to. In Git for Humans, David’s easygoing tone reduces the learning curve. He explains the ins and outs of Git (and the command line) in a swift and comprehensive read. If you haven’t used Git (or if you have), this book is essential to really understanding it.

Naz Hamid

Web designer, principal at Weightshift

Git for Humans isn’t simply a Git reference; it shows us how to use Git thoughtfully. From the mechanics of commands to the oft-overlooked details of writing clear and useful commit messages, David helps us understand how and why using Git will make our jobs easier.

Elizabeth Galle

Product manager, Adobe Fonts

You can’t succeed in the modern tech industry without understanding Git workflows. Thankfully, now there’s a guide that makes Git genuinely accessible—and this is it. It’s wonderful to see the power of Git expressed in clear, straightforward terms. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who works in technology.

Paul Ford

Writer and Co-founder/CEO of Aboard

Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve used Git for a while, this book is for you. With ease, David explains everything from what’s happening under the hood to command-line prompts. You’ll learn new things about Git and firm up the knowledge you already have.

Susan Robertson

Frontend developer and writer

Git Get the book

Get the PDF of Git for Humans FREE when you sign up for our newsletter

No strings, no tricks, no spam — just updates on what we're working on, some fun links, and pictures of my dog in every issue. (He's a really cute dog.) Plus, you'll be the first to hear news about future books and resources from Bits&Letters, including the upcoming second edition of Git for Humans.

Buy in print or for e-readers

We're an independent publisher — most of what you pay goes to us, not to middlemen.

Buy a print copy

Printed & shipped by IngramSpark

Best value

$19.99

Buy now

Get eBook editions for your Kindle or iOS device

$28.99

Get it for Kindle

Get it on Apple Books

About the author

David Demaree is a veteran web designer/developer, Big Tech product manager, and the founder/CEO of Bits&Letters, a boutique web agency focused on building great experiences using design systems, modern content management tools, and fantastic frontend performance.

At the time Git for Humans was originally published in 2016, David was a senior product manager on the Adobe Typekit team (now Adobe Fonts), having previously served as a lead engineer, and before Typekit had worked on design and engineering projects for Gannett, Disney/ABC, and MTV Networks, among many other clients.

Since then, David has made a name for himself as a product leader for some of the biggest names in tech, working on Material Design and Google Fonts at Google, contributing to the first release of Stripe Apps at Stripe, and launching expanded CSS support at Webflow.

In addition to publishing Git for Humans, David has spoken at design and product events in the U.S. and internationally, including giving the opening keynote at Web Directions Product 2019 in Melbourne, and has been a guest on podcasts including Swarmia's Engineering Unblocked, the Responsive Design Podcast, and User Defenders.

David lives in suburban New Jersey with his wife, daughter, French bulldog, and a room full of mechanical keyboards.