Exercise: Introduction To GitHub

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Introduction to GitHub

original github octocat

Welcome to Your Skills Exercise!

👋 Hey there Ryohei-Con! Welcome to your Skills exercise! If you are new to GitHub, you might find your fellow developers use issues to organize their work and collaborate. We will do the same! That's another lesson, but today, we will introduce you to the basics.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a web-based platform for version control and collaboration on software development projects. It allows developers to store and manage their code, track changes, and collaborate with others on a project. GitHub provides a unique way for developers to work together on a project, share their code, and get feedback from others.

Why Use GitHub?

There are several reasons why developers use GitHub:

  • Version Control: GitHub provides a version control system that allows developers to track changes to their code over time.
  • Collaboration: GitHub makes it easy for developers to collaborate on a project by allowing them to share their code and work together on a single repository.
  • Open Source: GitHub provides a platform for open-source projects, allowing developers to contribute to and collaborate on projects that are free and open to the public.
  • Community: GitHub has a large community of developers who contribute to and use the platform, providing a wealth of knowledge and resources for developers.

Getting Started with GitHub

To get started with GitHub, you will need to create an account on the GitHub website. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Create an Account: Go to the GitHub website and click on the "Sign up" button. Fill out the registration form with your email address, username, and password.
  2. Verify Your Email: GitHub will send a verification email to your email address. Click on the link in the email to verify your email address.
  3. Set Up Your Profile: Once you have verified your email address, you will need to set up your profile on GitHub. This includes adding a profile picture, bio, and other information.
  4. Create a Repository: To create a repository on GitHub, click on the "New" button and select "Repository". Fill out the form with the name of your repository, description, and other information.

Understanding GitHub Terminology

Before we dive into the exercise, it's essential to understand some of the key terms used on GitHub:

  • Repository: A repository is a collection of files and folders that are stored on GitHub.
  • Branch: A branch is a separate version of a repository that allows developers to work on a new feature or fix a bug without affecting the main codebase.
  • Commit: A commit is a snapshot of a repository at a particular point in time.
  • Pull Request: A pull request is a request to merge changes from one branch into another.

Exercise: Create a Repository

For this exercise, you will create a new repository on GitHub. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Create a New Repository: Click on the "New" button and select "Repository". Fill out form with the name of your repository, description, and other information.
  2. Add a README File: A README file is a text file that provides information about your repository. Add a README file to your repository and fill it out with information about your project.
  3. Create a New File: Create a new file in your repository and add some code to it.
  4. Commit Your Changes: Commit your changes to your repository by clicking on the "Commit" button.

Exercise: Create a Branch

For this exercise, you will create a new branch on GitHub. Here are the steps to follow:

  1. Create a New Branch: Click on the "New" button and select "Branch". Fill out the form with the name of your branch and other information.
  2. Switch to the New Branch: Switch to the new branch by clicking on the "Switch" button.
  3. Make Changes: Make some changes to your code and commit them to the new branch.
  4. Merge the Branch: Merge the new branch into the main codebase by clicking on the "Merge" button.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have completed the exercise and learned the basics of GitHub. You now know how to create a repository, add a README file, create a new file, commit your changes, create a branch, and merge the branch. These are essential skills for any developer who wants to work on a project with others.

What's Next?

In the next exercise, we will learn how to use issues to organize our work and collaborate with others. We will also learn how to use pull requests to merge changes from one branch into another. Stay tuned for the next exercise!

Additional Resources

  • GitHub Documentation: The official GitHub documentation provides a wealth of information on how to use GitHub.
  • GitHub Tutorials: GitHub provides a series of tutorials that cover the basics of using GitHub.
  • GitHub Community: The GitHub community is a great resource for learning from other developers and getting help with any questions you may have.

Exercise Feedback

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is GitHub?

A: GitHub is a web-based platform for version control and collaboration on software development projects. It allows developers to store and manage their code, track changes, and collaborate with others on a project.

Q: Why Use GitHub?

A: There are several reasons why developers use GitHub:

  • Version Control: GitHub provides a version control system that allows developers to track changes to their code over time.
  • Collaboration: GitHub makes it easy for developers to collaborate on a project by allowing them to share their code and work together on a single repository.
  • Open Source: GitHub provides a platform for open-source projects, allowing developers to contribute to and collaborate on projects that are free and open to the public.
  • Community: GitHub has a large community of developers who contribute to and use the platform, providing a wealth of knowledge and resources for developers.

Q: How Do I Create a Repository on GitHub?

A: To create a repository on GitHub, follow these steps:

  1. Create an Account: Go to the GitHub website and click on the "Sign up" button. Fill out the registration form with your email address, username, and password.
  2. Verify Your Email: GitHub will send a verification email to your email address. Click on the link in the email to verify your email address.
  3. Set Up Your Profile: Once you have verified your email address, you will need to set up your profile on GitHub. This includes adding a profile picture, bio, and other information.
  4. Create a Repository: To create a repository on GitHub, click on the "New" button and select "Repository". Fill out the form with the name of your repository, description, and other information.

Q: What is a Branch in GitHub?

A: A branch is a separate version of a repository that allows developers to work on a new feature or fix a bug without affecting the main codebase.

Q: How Do I Create a Branch on GitHub?

A: To create a branch on GitHub, follow these steps:

  1. Create a New Branch: Click on the "New" button and select "Branch". Fill out the form with the name of your branch and other information.
  2. Switch to the New Branch: Switch to the new branch by clicking on the "Switch" button.
  3. Make Changes: Make some changes to your code and commit them to the new branch.
  4. Merge the Branch: Merge the new branch into the main codebase by clicking on the "Merge" button.

Q: What is a Pull Request in GitHub?

A: A pull request is a request to merge changes from one branch into another.

Q: How Do I Create a Pull Request on GitHub?

A: To create a pull request on GitHub, follow these steps:

  1. Create a New Branch: Create a new branch and make some changes to your code.
  2. Switch to the New Branch: Switch to the new branch by clicking on the "Switch" button.
  3. Make Changes: Make some changes to your code and commit them to the new branch.
  4. Create a Pull: Create a pull request by clicking on the "New" button and selecting "Pull Request". Fill out the form with the name of your pull request and other information.
  5. Merge the Pull Request: Merge the pull request into the main codebase by clicking on the "Merge" button.

Q: What is a README File in GitHub?

A: A README file is a text file that provides information about your repository.

Q: How Do I Create a README File on GitHub?

A: To create a README file on GitHub, follow these steps:

  1. Create a New File: Create a new file in your repository and add some text to it.
  2. Save the File: Save the file and commit it to your repository.
  3. Add a README File: Add a README file to your repository and fill it out with information about your project.

Q: What is the GitHub Community?

A: The GitHub community is a group of developers who contribute to and use the GitHub platform. It provides a wealth of knowledge and resources for developers.

Q: How Do I Join the GitHub Community?

A: To join the GitHub community, follow these steps:

  1. Create an Account: Create an account on the GitHub website.
  2. Set Up Your Profile: Set up your profile on GitHub by adding a profile picture, bio, and other information.
  3. Participate in Discussions: Participate in discussions on the GitHub community by commenting on issues and pull requests.
  4. Contribute to Open-Source Projects: Contribute to open-source projects on GitHub by creating pull requests and participating in discussions.

Additional Resources

  • GitHub Documentation: The official GitHub documentation provides a wealth of information on how to use GitHub.
  • GitHub Tutorials: GitHub provides a series of tutorials that cover the basics of using GitHub.
  • GitHub Community: The GitHub community is a great resource for learning from other developers and getting help with any questions you may have.

Exercise Feedback

Please provide feedback on this Q&A article by commenting below. What did you find helpful? What did you find challenging? What would you like to see in future articles?