Table of Contents

• • How to Use This Guide
• ⎇ Git: Your software save system
  • • Commits
    • Branches
    • Sharing
    • Viewing History & Time Travel
    • Typical git flow
    • Your First Safe Commit & Push
    • Set Up Your Remote on GitHub
• 🔑 Secret Protection
  • • What is a Secret? (And What Isn't)
    • Step 1. Install Homebrew (macOS Only)
  • Step 2. Install GitGuardian using Homebrew
    • How it Works
  • Step 3. install GitGuardian globally
• Setting Up Cursor Rules for Safety and Mentorship
  • • • .cursor/rules/00-guard-secrets.mdc
      • .cursor/rules/01-green-path.mdc
• 🚀 Deployment Checklist (Simplified)
• 🆘 Emergency Recovery (If a Secret Leaks)
  • Help and support

How to Use This Guide

This guide is designed to be used while you build. Each section is concise and focused on keeping you safe from costly mistakes.

How to get the most out of it:

• 🗂️ Follow the sections in order: Git → Secrets → Cursor → Deploy
• 🎬 Use the screencasts if you get stuck
• 📋 Copy-paste the commands—they're designed to work as-is
• 🛡️ Install the Cursor rules for real-time help in your editor
• 🆘 When in doubt, check Emergency Recovery or contact me

⎇ Git: Your software save system

Git is a save system for your code. It lives inside a special folder called a repository (or repo).

Here's the minimum you need to know to be productive without leaking keys or getting your credit card popped:

Commits

Commits are checkpoints for your project. You create them when you've made meaningful changes, like adding a new feature.

# Stage your changes (tell Git which files to include in the checkpoint)
git add .

# Create the checkpoint (commit) with a descriptive message
git commit -m "Added new login feature"

Branches