Git Best Practices for Solo Developers

Git Best Practices for Solo Developers

June 15, 2025
#Git#Version Control#Best Practices

Git Is Your Friend

Even if you're working solo, using Git properly is one of the best habits you can build as a developer. It protects your work, gives you a history of changes, and prepares you for future collaboration.

My Top Practices

  • Commit often, but logically: Each commit should represent a meaningful change.
  • Write descriptive commit messages: Explain what and why, not just what.
  • Use feature branches: Keep your main branch clean and stable.
  • Don’t commit sensitive files: Use .env and add them to .gitignore.
  • Push regularly: It’s your backup—even if you're the only contributor.

Treat your solo projects like team projects, and your future self will thank you.

Bonus Tip

If you're not comfortable with the command line, tools like GitHub Desktop or VS Code’s Git integration make version control easy and visual. Use whatever helps you stay consistent.