Vibe Coding · Lesson

Git Basics with an AI Helper

Commit, branch and push with AI guidance.

Git Basics with an AI Helper is a free Vibe Coding lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 2 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 Vibe Coding learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

From Theory to Hands-On

Last lesson you learned why version control matters. Now you'll actually use it — and you won't memorize a single command.

Your AI assistant (Cursor, Claude Code, Copilot, or even ChatGPT) will write every Git command for you. Your job is to understand what each step does so you stay in control.

By the end, you'll have made a commit, a branch, and a push. Let's go.

The Four Core Actions

99% of Git work is just four actions:

init — start tracking a project (once per project)
commit — save a snapshot
branch — make a parallel copy to experiment
push — upload your snapshots to GitHub

Learn these four and you can build real apps. Everything else you can ask AI for as you need it.

Starting a Project (init)

To begin tracking a folder, you run git init once. Most tools (Cursor, Replit, GitHub Desktop) do this with a button, but here's what it looks like.

Don't type this blindly — paste it into your AI and ask it to confirm. Here's a prompt to do that:

I'm in my project folder in the VS Code terminal.

Walk me through starting Git tracking for this project, step by step.
I think the first command is `git init` -- confirm that, tell me
exactly what to type, and what I should see after each command.

Staging vs Committing

One thing that confuses beginners: before you commit, you stage your changes. Staging means "these are the changes I want in this snapshot."

Two-step rhythm: stage what you want, then commit it with a message.

git add . — stage all your changes
git commit -m "Add homepage" — save the snapshot

Think of staging as putting items in a box, and committing as sealing and labeling the box.

Your First Commit Prompt

Here's the exact prompt to make your first commit. Paste it into your AI assistant and follow along:

I just built my homepage and it works. I want to save this snapshot.

Give me the exact terminal commands to:
1. Stage all my changes
2. Commit them with the message "Add working homepage"

Then explain what each command did in one sentence.

Seeing Your History

After a few commits, you'll want to see your history. The command is git log. Tools show it as a clickable timeline.

Here's a tiny simulation of what your history feels like — a list of save points with messages:

const log = [
  { hash: 'a1b2c3', msg: 'Add working homepage' },
  { hash: 'd4e5f6', msg: 'Add navigation bar' },
  { hash: '7g8h9i', msg: 'Fix mobile layout' }
];

console.log('Project history (newest last):');
log.forEach(c => console.log('  ' + c.hash + '  ' + c.msg));
console.log('\nEach hash is an ID you can return to.');

Branching to Experiment

Want to try a redesign without risking your working app? Make a branch.

git branch new-design — create the branch
git checkout new-design — switch to it

Now you're working in a parallel copy. Your main version is frozen and safe. Build wild ideas here.

Modern shortcut: git checkout -b new-design creates and switches in one step. (Your AI knows all these.)

Merging Back In

When your experiment works, you bring it into your main version with a merge.

You switch back to your main branch and merge the experiment in. If something conflicts, AI is excellent at resolving it. Here's a prompt for the whole flow:

I created a branch called `new-design`, tested it, and it works great.

Give me the exact commands to:
1. Switch back to my main branch
2. Merge `new-design` into it

If there's a merge conflict, tell me how to spot it and what to do.

Connecting to GitHub (push)

Push uploads your commits to GitHub so they're backed up online and shareable.

The easiest path: in Cursor or VS Code, click "Publish to GitHub." It creates the online repo and pushes for you.

If you prefer the terminal, your AI will give you the git remote add and git push commands. Once connected, future pushes are a single click or git push.

The .gitignore File

Some files should NOT be saved to Git — like secret API keys or huge auto-generated folders (node_modules).

A .gitignore file lists what Git should skip. This keeps your repo clean and your secrets safe.

Don't hand-write it — ask AI. A solid prompt:

Create a .gitignore file for a beginner web project.

Make sure it ignores node_modules, .env files with secrets,
and any OS junk files like .DS_Store. Explain why each
entry should be ignored, briefly.

Your Repeatable Workflow

Here's the loop you'll use every single day as a vibe coder:

Build a small feature with AI
Test it — does it work?
Stage and commit with a clear message
For risky ideas, work on a branch first
Push to GitHub to back everything up

Repeat. This rhythm keeps your project safe, organized, and always recoverable — no memorization required.

Quick Check

Let's check your grasp of the core Git flow.

Recap & What's Next

You can now run the full Git basics — with AI writing the commands:

init starts tracking a project (once)
stage + commit saves a snapshot with a message
branch lets you experiment safely, merge brings it back
push backs everything up on GitHub
.gitignore keeps secrets and junk out

Next lesson: Letting AI Write Commit Messages — get a clean, professional history with almost no effort.

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Git Basics with an AI Helper” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Git Basics with an AI Helper” is free to read here on the web, and the Vibe Coding 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 Vibe Coding course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Git Basics with an AI Helper”?

Commit, branch and push with AI guidance. You practise Vibe Coding 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 Vibe Coding?

No prior experience is required. Vibe Coding on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 2 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Git Basics with an AI Helper” 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 Vibe Coding lesson?

Yes. Every Vibe Coding 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.

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