lesson_2_reflections.txt

What happens when you initialize a repository? Why do you need to do it?

How is the staging area different from the working directory and the repository?
What value do you think it offers?
	The staging area is temporary.  It allows files to be added/removed without altering the repository until it's clear they are needed.

How can you use the staging area to make sure you have one commit per logical
change?
	By adding all the files to the staging area with git add, and then committing them together with a meaningful comment.

What are some situations when branches would be helpful in keeping your history
organized? How would branches help?
    When a minimum working example/viable product is ready, and work is ready to begin on new features/beautifying it.

How do the diagrams help you visualize the branch structure?
	They show where branches are, their parents and if there are any unreachable commits

What is the result of merging two branches together? Why do we represent it in
the diagram the way we do?
	The result is that the results changes from both branches are present in a single place.  The branches therefore end and this is the representation in the diagram.

What are the pros and cons of Git's automatic merging vs. always doing merges
manually?
	Automatic merging may mean that it is tricky to find all areas of a file that have been touched.  The advantage though is that a human can make decisions based on their knowledge of what is needed to exclude and include content from conflicting files.