Aktbook- Read & Learn

 ### **Version Control (GitHub/GitLab) – Why It’s Crucial for Game Development**  

#### **1. What is Version Control?**  

Version control is a system that tracks changes in your code and assets over time. It allows multiple developers to collaborate efficiently without overwriting each other's work.  

#### **2. Why Use GitHub/GitLab?**  

These platforms provide a **cloud-based repository** where you can store and manage your game’s code, assets, and scripts. Key benefits:  

- **Track Changes:** Every modification is saved with a history, so you can revert if needed.  

- **Team Collaboration:** Multiple developers can work on different features simultaneously.  

- **Backup & Security:** Prevents data loss by keeping a cloud backup.  

- **Branching & Merging:** You can work on different versions (branches) of the game and merge changes when ready.  

#### **3. How to Implement It?**  

1. **Set Up a Repository:**  

   - Use GitHub or GitLab to create a repository (public or private).  

   - Initialize it with `.gitignore` to avoid unnecessary files (e.g., temp files).  

2. **Clone & Work Locally:**  

   - Use `git clone` to download the repo.  

   - Make changes locally and test your updates.  

3. **Commit & Push Changes:**  

   - Save changes with `git commit -m "Your commit message"`  

   - Upload to the cloud with `git push origin main`  

4. **Branching & Merging:**  

   - Create feature branches (`git checkout -b feature-name`) to work on separate features.  

   - Merge branches when features are ready (`git merge feature-name`).  

#### **4. Which One to Choose?**  

- **GitHub:** Best for open-source projects and wide community support.  

- **GitLab:** Better for private repositories with advanced CI/CD features.  

- **Bitbucket:** Good for small teams with private repos.  

#### **5. Additional Tools to Enhance Workflow:**  

- **Git LFS (Large File Storage):** Essential for handling large assets in game development.  

- **CI/CD Pipelines:** Automate game builds and testing.  

- **Unity Collaborate / Plastic SCM:** Alternative version control tools for Unity projects.  

**TL;DR:** Use GitHub/GitLab to **track changes, collaborate with teams, prevent data loss, and manage game versions efficiently.** 🚀