Creating Your First Repository
Discover how to initialize a new Git repository and start tracking files within your project directory.
Creating Your First Repository is a free DevOps Bootcamp lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the DevOps Bootcamp learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
The Heart of Your Project
A repository (repo) is a folder that stores your files plus the full history of every change — so you can see who changed what, revert, and collaborate cleanly.
`git init`: Start Tracking!
Turn any folder into a Git repo with git init, run from inside the project directory. It sets up everything Git needs to start tracking.
What `git init` Creates
git init creates a hidden .git folder — Git’s brain for your project. It holds all metadata and every version of your files, so never edit it by hand.
`git status`: What's Happening?
git status is your go-to: it shows what is new, modified, staged, or untracked. Run it constantly to see exactly where your repo stands.
`git add`: Prepare for Saving
Git only saves what you tell it to. git add moves files into the staging area — your prepared snapshot for the next commit.
Let's Create a Project!
Time to try it: create a folder, run git init, add a file, and check the status. Watch how staging works in your own terminal.
mkdir my_first_repo
cd my_first_repo
git init
touch index.html
git add index.html
git statusWhat `git status` Shows Now
After those commands, git status shows index.html under Changes to be committed — it is staged and ready for its first commit.
.gitignore: What Not to Track
Some files never belong in Git: build outputs, logs, secrets. List them in a .gitignore at the repo root and Git will leave them alone.
How to Use `.gitignore`
Inside .gitignore, each line is a pattern: *.log skips all logs, /build/ skips that folder, node_modules/ skips dependencies. Ignored files vanish from git status.
Test Your Knowledge
You've learned how to start a Git repository and prepare files for tracking. Let's do a quick check!
You've Started Your First Repo!
Great start! You used git init to create a repo, learned the .git folder, checked state with git status, staged with git add, and ignored junk via .gitignore.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Creating Your First Repository” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Creating Your First Repository” is free to read here on the web, and the DevOps Bootcamp course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the DevOps Bootcamp course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Creating Your First Repository”?
Discover how to initialize a new Git repository and start tracking files within your project directory. You practise DevOps Bootcamp with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start DevOps Bootcamp?
No prior experience is required. DevOps Bootcamp on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Creating Your First Repository” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this DevOps Bootcamp lesson?
Yes. Every DevOps Bootcamp lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Introduction to Version Control
- Installing Git & Configuration
- Creating Your First Repository
- Understanding the .gitignore File