What does 'git' primarily manage in software development?

Git primarily manages version control in software development. It allows developers to track changes to their code over time, enabling them to collaborate effectively within teams. With Git, users can create repositories that store all versions of their codebase. This means that any developer can access previous versions of the code, see what changes were made, who made them, and when they were made. This historical perspective is invaluable for understanding the evolution of a project and for debugging, as it allows developers to pinpoint when specific changes were introduced.

Version control through Git also supports branching and merging, enabling teams to work on features or fixes in isolation before integrating them into the main codebase. This ensures that collaborative work does not disrupt the stability of the software.

While code compilation, debugging, and user authentication are important aspects of software development, they do not fall under the primary function of Git. Code compilation refers to transforming code into executable programs; debugging involves finding and fixing errors in that code; and user authentication focuses on verifying user identity. Each of these areas operates separately from Git’s core role in managing versions of code.