Interviewer: What is version control?

Expert: A system that tracks every change to files over time. Think of it like tracked changes in Microsoft Word, but way more powerful. Multiple people can work on the same project without destroying each other's work.

Interviewer: How does it prevent conflicts?

Expert: Everyone works on their own copy. When you're done, you merge your changes back. The system checks if someone else changed the same lines of code. If so, it flags the conflict and makes you resolve it manually before combining the work.

Interviewer: What's the most common system?

Expert: Git, by far. Combined with platforms like GitHub or GitLab. Git handles the version tracking. GitHub adds collaboration features like code review, issue tracking, and team management.

Interviewer: Can non-programmers use this?

Expert: Absolutely. Writers, designers, anyone working on files that evolve over time. The terminology feels technical at first, but the concept is straightforward. You're just saving snapshots of your work and being able to go back to any previous snapshot.

Interviewer: What's the learning curve?

Expert: Basic operations take a few hours to learn. Advanced features take months. Most people only need five or six commands for daily work. The hardest part is understanding the mental model of branches and merges.