BIOL 812 - Assignment
Jeffrey Cederwall
Questions
1. When should you use Git for a project?
Git should be used when you want to store and share all versions of a project. This can be helpful to have earlier versions of a project in case an error is made so you can refer back to a previous version. By having git accessible you can easily share your work with others to collaborate on projects.
2. What kind of files/info should be saved in a Git repository? What types of files/info should not be included in a Git repo?
Scripts, code, and test files should be stored in git repositories. It is not recommended to store sensitive information or large datasets in a git repository.
3. What are the commands to undo a commit?
To undo a bad commit, you can follow the following code below to reset to an earlier version and then change the file to what you want. This answer was found from Stackoverflow.
git commit -m "Something terribly misguided"
git reset HEAD~
« edit files as necessary »
$ git add ...
$ git commit -c ORIG_HEAD
4. One of your repositories is in a “detached HEAD” state. How do you fix this?
5. Your boss has no idea what Git is or why you are using it. Explain the pros / cons of using Git for your research project. Explain the pros / cons of hosting your project in a public (or private) repository on Github/Bitbucket/Gitlab/etc.
Pros
- Allows you easily share information and code with collaborators
- Free to use
- Will save earlier versions of your work in case of errors
- Can be used as back-up location for your R scripts in case of a computer error
Cons
- Publically accessible so it is not advised for sensitive information
- Private repositories are available but cost money
- Can be difficult to learn initially