How to Use Git in Visual Studio Code

Edited 6 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Git is a popular version control system widely used in software development. It helps track changes in the codebase, collaborate with other developers, and manage different versions of a project. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a powerful, lightweight code editor developed by Microsoft, with built-in support for Git. In this guide, we will go into detail about how to use Git in Visual Studio Code, discussing various functionalities and features that you can use in your development workflow.

Setting up Git in Visual Studio Code

Before you can start using Git in Visual Studio Code, you need to install Git on your computer. If you haven't installed it yet, you can download it from the official Git website and install it by following the instructions there. After installation, it's important to configure your Git settings.

Configuring Git

Once Git is installed, you will need to set up your username and email. These are used in the commit information to identify the author of the changes. Open your terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:

git config --global user.name "your name"
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"

Opening VS Code and Git integration

Launch Visual Studio Code. You will see the Source Control icon on the left Activity Bar (this icon looks like a split branch with dots). Click on it to open the Source Control view. If you have a folder open in VS Code that is already a Git repository, it will automatically detect all the repositories available. If it is not a repository yet, you can initialize it directly from the editor.

Initialize the repository

To initialize a Git repository in your existing project, click the "Initialize Repository" button in the Source Control view. This will create a new Git repository in your workspace, and you will see a '.git' folder added to your project directory. This folder contains all the metadata that Git uses to track your project.

Basic Git commands in Visual Studio Code

Once your repository is initialized, you can start using Git commands directly in the user interface of Visual Studio Code. Let's look at some basic Git operations like staging, committing, and pushing changes.

Changes in staging

After making changes to your files, you will see VS Code display a list of new or modified files in the Source Control view. These changes must be staged before committing. To stage the changes, hover over the file and click the “+” icon that appears, also known as the ‘Stage File’ option. This adds the changes to the staging area. Alternatively, you can use the git command:

git add <filename>

Committing to change

Once you stage your changes, you need to commit them. In the Source Control view, you will find a text box at the top where you can type your commit message. This message should be descriptive enough to explain the nature of the changes. After typing the message, click on the checkmark icon to commit the changes. Committing via the command line will look like this:

git commit -m "Your commit message is here"

Advancing change

After you make changes, they are stored locally and are not yet sent to any remote repositories. To update remote repositories with your commits, you can push them. Make sure your repository is connected to a remote server like GitHub, GitLab, etc. You can push changes by clicking the "..." menu in the Source Control view and selecting "Push" from the list, assuming you have already connected your repository to a remote. Otherwise, you can set up a remote using the following:

git remote add origin <remote_url>
git push -u origin master

Working with branches

Branches in Git are like separate lines of development. You can work on different parts of your project simultaneously without interfering with the main codebase. VS Code allows easy branch management through its interface.

Creating a new branch

To create a new branch, go to the Source Control view, click the "..." menu, and choose "Branch" > "Create Branch". Enter the name of your new branch when prompted. You can also use the command line to create a branch:

git branch <branch_name>
git checkout <branch_name>

Changing branches

If you want to switch to another branch, use the dropdown control in the lower-left corner of VS Code that lists all branches. Select the branch you want to switch to. Through the command line, this can be done as follows:

git checkout <branch_name>

Dealing with merge conflicts

Sometimes, while working on branches, you may encounter merge conflicts. These occur when changes in different branches conflict with each other. With the help of Visual Studio Code, you can resolve merge conflicts using the editor's built-in tools.

Identifying merge conflicts

During the merge, if there are any conflicts, the Git output in VS Code will notify you. Conflicting files will be highlighted in the Source Control view, and conflict markers will appear within the editor when you open the conflicting file.

Resolving merge conflicts

VS Code provides options like "Accept current changes", "Accept incoming changes", "Accept both changes" and manual editing to resolve conflicts. Select appropriately as per your requirements.

Working with the remote

Remotes are versions of your project that are hosted somewhere on the Internet or network. You can collaborate with others more efficiently by using remote repositories hosted on GitHub or GitLab.

Adding a remote repository

To add a remote repository to your local project, you will need its URL. Use the following command to add the remote:

git remote add origin <remote_url>

Make sure you replace `<remote_url>` with the actual URL of your remote repository.

Fetch and drag from the remote

When you want to update your local repository with remote changes, use the fetch and pull commands. Fetching allows you to see what others have committed (without changing your local files) while pulling fetches and merges the changes:

git fetch
git pull

Conclusion

Mastering Git in Visual Studio Code can streamline your development process significantly, as it provides a seamless integration of source control functionalities directly into one of the most popular code editors. Whether you're just getting started with version control or looking to optimize your current workflow, using Git with VS Code offers a number of features and commands to help you manage your projects effectively.

As you continue to explore Git through Visual Studio Code, remember that constantly practicing the commands and familiarizing yourself with the interface will increase your proficiency. Using Git effectively enables seamless collaboration and a more organized approach to software development, giving you better control over your codebase.

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