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How Git Works

Intermediate 1.9 hours English
SkillsGitVersion controlBranchingRebasingDistributed modelGit internals

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Paolo Perrotta's Pluralsight course goes beneath Git's commands to the model that actually makes it tick.

Good for: Truly understanding how Git works, beyond memorised commands.

Skip if: You are brand new to Git or just want a command cheat-sheet.

Over about two hours it explains Git's core data structures, what branching and rebasing are really doing, and the distributed model underneath — the difference between memorising commands and genuinely understanding them, which is exactly what stops Git from feeling like magic that occasionally breaks. It assumes you've used Git a little, so it's not a first-day tutorial or a command cheat-sheet. It's on a Pluralsight plan (Standard about $29/month or $299/year, Premium about $45/month or $499/year, 10-day trial). Git's underlying model hasn't changed in years (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

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About this course

How Git Works goes beneath the commands to the model that makes Git tick. Over about two hours, Paolo Perrotta explains Git's core data structures, how branching and rebasing actually work, and the distributed model behind it — turning command-memorizers into developers who genuinely understand version control.

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Instructor

PP
Paolo Perrotta
Pluralsight instructor

Taught by Paolo Perrotta, a developer, author and conference speaker known for making deep technical topics genuinely clear.

Frequently asked questions

It suits people who already use Git a little but want to genuinely understand what it is doing under the hood, more than absolute first-timers. Rather than just teaching commands, it explains Git's underlying model — how commits, branches, and the repository actually work — which clears up the confusion many users carry. If you have never touched Git at all, a hands-on basics course first would help; this deepens understanding.

Yes, indirectly and powerfully. Merge conflicts and other Git confusion usually stem from not understanding how Git models commits and branches. By explaining that underlying model, the course makes situations like merges, rebases, and conflicts far less mysterious, so you can reason about and resolve them confidently rather than blindly trying commands and hoping. Understanding the model is exactly what prevents Git panic.

How Git actually works internally: the object model behind commits, how branches and references really function, what happens during merges and rebases, and why Git behaves as it does. It is a conceptual, understanding-focused course rather than a command cheat-sheet, aimed at turning Git from a set of memorised incantations into something you genuinely comprehend and can use with confidence.

Yes. Pluralsight offers a free trial (commonly around ten days), enough to work through a focused course like this at no cost if you are disciplined. Beyond the trial it is a subscription, so ongoing access to Pluralsight's wider library is paid — but this course fits comfortably within a trial period.

Pluralsight issues a course completion record rather than an industry certification. For Git, that hardly matters — the value is genuinely understanding the tool, which shows in how confidently you use it day to day. Treat the record as a marker of learning; the real payoff is no longer being confused or afraid of Git operations like branching and merging.
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Pluralsight subscription
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