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Git Basics in Practical DevSecOps Labs: Clone, Commit, Push, and Pull

Last updated on Sep 03, 2026

Git Basics in Practical DevSecOps Labs: Clone, Commit, Push, and Pull

Git is the most essential tool in any DevSecOps workflow. It powers CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, and security-as-code practices. This article covers the Git commands you'll use throughout the Practical DevSecOps courses.

Table of Contents

  1. Initial Git Setup
  2. Cloning a Repository
  3. Adding, Committing, and Pushing
  4. Pulling Changes
  5. Common Questions

Initial Git Setup

Before using Git, configure your identity:

git config --global user.email "student@practical-devsecops.com"
git config --global user.name "student"

These credentials will be attached to every commit you make.

Cloning a Repository

To download a remote repository to your local machine:

git clone git@gitlab-ce-$STUDENT_ID:root/django-nv.git

Authentication confirmation

On first connection, you may see:

The authenticity of host 'gitlab-ce-$STUDENT_ID (10.x.x.x)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:xxxxxxxxxxxx.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?

Type yes and press Enter to proceed.

After cloning, explore the repository:

cd django-nv
ls -l

Adding, Committing, and Pushing

In Git, saving changes is a two-step process:

Step 1: Stage changes with git add

Create or modify files, then check the status:

cat > myfile <<EOL
This is my file
EOL

echo "Practical DevSecOps" >> README.md
git status

On branch master
Changes not staged for commit:
      modified:   README.md
Untracked files:
      myfile

Stage the changes:

git add myfile README.md

Step 2: Commit with git commit

git commit -m "Add myfile and update README.md"

[master fb7a678] Add myfile and update README.md
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 myfile

The -m flag provides a commit message.

Step 3: Push to the remote repository

git push

Verify your changes on GitLab at https://gitlab-ce-$STUDENT_ID.$LAB_DOMAIN_URI/root/django-nv.

Credential Value
Username root
Password pdso-training

Pulling Changes

To download changes made by others (or via the GitLab web UI):

git pull

Note: You may use the GitLab web UI to edit files during exercises. You can also make all changes via the Git CLI if you prefer.

Common Questions

Question Answer
What's the difference between git add and git commit? git add stages changes (marks them to be included). git commit saves the staged changes to the repository history.
Why do I need to configure my email and name? Every commit records the author's identity. Without it, git commit will warn you.
What does git status show? It displays which files are staged, modified, untracked, or already committed.
Can I undo a commit? Use git revert to create a new commit that undoes changes, or git reset to move back in history (use with caution).
Do I need internet to use Git locally? No. Git works offline for local operations. You only need internet for git push and git pull.

For additional learning, see Git Basics — Automation Step by Step YouTube Playlist.

Wrap-Up

Mastering git clone, git add, git commit, git push, and git pull is the foundation for every CI/CD pipeline exercise you'll encounter. These five commands cover the vast majority of Git operations in the Practical DevSecOps courses.