Version Control is King
AI generates multiple versions. Git saves your sanity. Learn the workflow that prevents chaos.
Why Git Matters More with AI
AI-assisted development creates a unique problem: you generate more code variations than ever before.
Without version control, you'll find yourself with files named: main_v2.py, main_v3_final.py, main_v3_final_REAL.py, main_please_work.py.
AI sometimes generates code that looks right but breaks everything. Without Git, you'll spend hours trying to remember what working code looked like.
The Essential Git Workflow
You don't need to be a Git expert. These five commands cover 95% of what you need:
git init- Start version controlgit add .- Stage all changesgit commit -m "message"- Save a checkpointgit checkout .- Undo all changes since last commitgit log- See history
Commit Often
When working with AI, commit after every successful change. Your commit history should tell a story:
- "Add user authentication"
- "Implement API endpoint for documents"
- "Fix bug in parsing logic"
Before asking AI to make any major change, commit your working code. If the AI breaks something, you can always go back.
Git is non-negotiable. No version control = guaranteed disaster with AI-generated code.
Commit before AI changes. Always save working code before letting AI modify it.
Five commands are enough. init, add, commit, checkout, log. That's all you need.
Commit messages matter. Future you will thank present you for clear descriptions.