Git
Version control. Tracks every change to every file in your workspace, forever, for free.
What it is
Git is a free, open-source version control system. Every time you change a file in a Git-tracked folder, Git can snapshot that change along with a short message about what and why. You can view the history, revert to any previous state, branch into parallel experiments, and merge those back.
It was originally written by Linus Torvalds (the creator of Linux) and is the de facto standard for source control in software development. It runs entirely on your computer. You do not need an internet connection or an account to use it.
Why the workshops use it
Your Personal Agentic OS is a folder full of files. Git gives that folder an infinite undo history, audit log, and safety net. You can push the state of the repo to GitHub (your cloud backup), pull it down on another machine, and keep working from exactly where you left off. If anything goes sideways, you can git log to see what happened, and git revert to step back.
Git is also what makes agent-driven edits safe. If your agent writes something that turns out to be wrong, Git lets you see the diff and roll back cleanly.
Git vs GitHub
- Git runs on your computer. It tracks changes.
- GitHub is a website where you can upload a copy of your Git-tracked project for backup, collaboration, and discovery.
You need Git. GitHub is strongly recommended but technically optional.
Is this safe?
Yes. Git is open source, has been around for over 20 years, and is installed on billions of machines.
Install
brew install git
winget install Git.Git
sudo apt install git # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo dnf install git # Fedora
On most Macs, Git is already installed. Check first with git --version and skip the install if you see a version number.
Verify
git --version
Official site
Further reading
For a full introduction, GitHub's own guide is excellent.