checkout or clone?

[jon-freed]

On this page: http://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-About-Version-Control

And in this sentence: "Every checkout is really a full backup of all the data."

Shouldn't it be using the word "clone" instead of checkout?

[ben]

Tricky. We haven't used the word "clone" up until that point in the chapter, while "check out" has already been established. But you're right, it is technically more correct. From the point of view of a complete beginner, who has minimal experience with any source control before reading this, which one do you think would be clearer?

[jon-freed]

"Clone", please.

Yes, I am a git beginner. And with my background -- and particularly with substantial Microsoft SharePoint usage in my history -- "check out" is more synonymous with "lock" than it is with "clone" or "copy". So, yes, I think "clone" is more appropriate in these circumstances.

[ben]

Okay, I'm down. Want to submit a pull request that fixes this?

[schacon]

👍