# Storage Best Practices

In 

# Project Storage Best Practices On Windows

# 1. Primary Drive Storage

Store projects on your main internal SSD (e.g., C:\ Drive) for improved performance and reliability:

  • SSD Benefits: Faster read/write speeds, enhanced project load times, and reduced risk of mechanical failure.

# 2. Avoid External Drives

While external drives are convenient, they’re prone to degradation, especially HDDs. Instead:

  • Opt for internal SSDs or high-quality USB 3.0 drives if external storage is needed.

# 3. Organized Directory Structure

Create a clear folder hierarchy, like Documents/BMD_Projects, to keep projects organized:

  • Example:
    plaintext
    C:\Users\YourName\Documents\BMD_Projects\ProjectName

# 4. Use Version Control

Integrate Git or other VCS tools to manage versions and avoid redundant copies:

  • Recommendation: Use platforms like GitHub or Bitbucket for cloud versioning.
    Here’s an in-depth guide to setting up and using version control for your project:

Version control tracks changes to your project files, making it easy to manage updates, collaborate, and revert to previous versions. Git is a widely used version control system, and GitHub provides a remote repository option. Here’s how to set up version control:

# Step 1: Install Git

  1. Download Git from git-scm.com and follow the installation instructions.
  2. Configure Git by running the following commands in your terminal:
    git config --global user.name "Your Name"
    git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

# Step 2: Initialize Git in Your Project Directory

  1. Open a terminal in your project folder and initialize Git:
    cd path/to/your/project
    git init
  2. This creates a .git folder to track changes.

# Step 3: Create a Repository on GitHub

  1. Go to GitHub and create a new repository for your project.
  2. Copy the repository URL for setup.

# Step 4: Link Your Local Repository to GitHub

  1. In your terminal, link your local repository to GitHub:
    git remote add origin <repository-url>
  2. Verify the link with git remote -v.

# Step 5: Commit and Push Changes

  1. Add files to the staging area:
    git add .
  2. Commit your changes:
    git commit -m "Initial commit"
  3. Push the changes to GitHub:
    git push -u origin main

# Step 6: Managing Changes

  • Use git status to check modified files.
  • To pull updates from GitHub, use git pull.
  • Make regular commits to track changes and use GitHub’s interface to manage branches and collaborate with others.

# 5. Regular Backups

Automate backups to an external drive or cloud storage to ensure data recovery:

  • Tip: Schedule weekly or bi-weekly backups.

# Project Storage Best Practices on Linux

# 1. Primary Drive Storage

Store projects on your main internal SSD (e.g., ~/Projects on /home) for fast and reliable performance:

  • SSD Benefits: Faster read/write speeds, enhanced project load times, and less risk of mechanical failure compared to HDDs.

# 2. Avoid External Drives

While external drives offer flexibility, they degrade faster, especially HDDs. If you need additional storage:

  • Opt for an internal SSD or high-quality USB 3.0/SSD external drive.

# 3. Organized Directory Structure

Maintain a well-organized folder hierarchy, like ~/Projects/BMD_Projects, to simplify navigation:

  • Example:
    plaintext
    /home/YourUsername/Projects/BMD_Projects/ProjectName

# 4. Use Version Control

Implement Git or another VCS for tracking changes and collaborating. Here’s how to set up Git:

# Step 1: Install Git

  1. Install Git using your package manager:
    sudo apt install git
    sudo dnf install git
    sudo pacman -S git 
  2. Configure Git:
    git config --global user.name "Your Name"
    git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

# Step 2: Initialize Git in Your Project Directory

  1. Navigate to your project folder and initialize Git:
    cd /home/YourUsername/Projects/ProjectName
    git init

# Step 3: Create and Link a GitHub Repository

  1. Create a new repository on GitHub and copy the URL.
  2. Link the local repository to GitHub:
    git remote add origin <repository-url>

# Step 4: Commit and Push Changes

  1. Stage your files:
    git add .
  2. Commit the changes:
    git commit -m "Initial commit"
  3. Push to GitHub:
    git push -u origin main

# Step 5: Manage Changes

  • Check changes with git status.
  • Pull updates from GitHub with git pull.
  • Make frequent commits to keep your project history updated.

# 5. Regular Backups

Automate backups to another storage location, such as a secondary internal drive or cloud storage, to ensure project safety:

  • Tip: Use rsync for scheduled backups or services like Dropbox for cloud storage.