Exercise: Introduction To GitHub
Introduction to GitHub

Welcome to Your Skills Exercise!
👋 Hey there, mattmahar! 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 in a centralized location, making it easier to collaborate with others and track changes to the codebase. GitHub provides a range of features, including:
- Version control: GitHub allows developers to track changes to their codebase over time, making it easier to identify and fix errors.
- Collaboration: GitHub enables multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously, making it easier to collaborate and share code.
- Open-source: GitHub provides a platform for open-source projects, allowing developers to share their code with others and collaborate on a global scale.
Getting Started with GitHub
To get started with GitHub, you will need to create an account. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Create a GitHub account: Go to the GitHub website and sign up for an account. You can use your email address or your social media account to create an account.
- Set up your profile: Once you have created an account, set up your profile by adding a profile picture, bio, and other information.
- Create a new repository: A repository is a container for your code. To create a new repository, click on the "+" button in the top right corner of the GitHub dashboard.
- Add files to your repository: Once you have created a new repository, you can add files to it by clicking on the "Add file" button.
- Commit changes: Once you have added files to your repository, you can commit changes by clicking on the "Commit" button.
Understanding GitHub Terminology
To get the most out of GitHub, it's essential to understand the terminology. Here are some key terms to get you started:
- Repository: A repository is a container for your code.
- Branch: A branch is a separate version of your code.
- Commit: A commit is a snapshot of your code at a particular point in time.
- Pull request: A pull request is a request to merge changes from one branch into another.
- Issue: An issue is a bug or a feature request.
Exercise: Create a New Repository
For this exercise, you will create a new repository and add a few files to it. Here's what you need to do:
- Create a new repository: Create a new repository by clicking on the "+" button in the top right corner of the GitHub dashboard.
- Add a README file: Add a README file to your repository by clicking on the "Add file" button.
- Add a LICENSE file: Add a LICENSE file to your repository by on the "Add file" button.
- Commit changes: Commit your changes by clicking on the "Commit" button.
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have completed the introduction to GitHub exercise. You now have a basic understanding of GitHub and how to create a new repository and add files to it. In the next exercise, we will cover more advanced topics, such as branching and merging.
What's Next?
In the next exercise, we will cover more advanced topics, such as branching and merging. You will learn how to create a new branch, make changes to your code, and merge those changes into the main branch. You will also learn how to use GitHub's built-in features, such as pull requests and code reviews.
Additional Resources
If you want to learn more about GitHub, here are some additional resources:
- GitHub documentation: The GitHub documentation provides a comprehensive guide to using GitHub.
- GitHub tutorials: GitHub provides a range of tutorials to help you get started with using GitHub.
- GitHub community: The GitHub community is a great place to connect with other developers and get help with any questions you may have.
Get Feedback and Next Steps
As you complete each step, I will respond in the comments to:
- Check your work and give feedback: I will check your work and provide feedback on any mistakes you may have made.
- Share next steps: I will share the next steps in the exercise and provide guidance on what to do next.
- Occasionally share tips: I will occasionally share tips and best practices for using GitHub.
- Congratulate you when you finish: I will congratulate you when you complete the exercise and provide feedback on your progress.
GitHub Q&A ================
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 in a centralized location, making it easier to collaborate with others and track changes to the codebase.
Q: What is the difference between GitHub and Git?
A: Git is a version control system that allows developers to track changes to their codebase. GitHub is a web-based platform that provides a user-friendly interface for using Git. Think of GitHub as a social network for developers, where you can share your code and collaborate with others.
Q: How do I create a new repository on GitHub?
A: To create a new repository on GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Click on the "+" button in the top right corner of the GitHub dashboard.
- Fill in the repository name, description, and other details.
- Click on the "Create repository" button.
Q: What is a branch in GitHub?
A: A branch in GitHub is a separate version of your code. You can think of it as a separate line of development that allows you to work on new features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase.
Q: How do I create a new branch in GitHub?
A: To create a new branch in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a branch for.
- Click on the "New branch" button.
- Fill in the branch name and description.
- Click on the "Create branch" button.
Q: What is a pull request in GitHub?
A: A pull request in GitHub is a request to merge changes from one branch into another. It's a way to review and discuss changes before they are merged into the main codebase.
Q: How do I create a pull request in GitHub?
A: To create a pull request in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a pull request for.
- Click on the "New pull request" button.
- Select the branch you want to merge into the main codebase.
- Click on the "Create pull request" button.
Q: What is a commit in GitHub?
A: A commit in GitHub is a snapshot of your code at a particular point in time. It's a way to save changes to your codebase and track the history of your project.
Q: How do I create a commit in GitHub?
A: To create a commit in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a commit for.
- Make changes to your code.
- Click on the "Commit" button.
- Fill in the commit message and description.
- Click on the "Commit" button.
Q: What is a fork in GitHub?
A: A fork in GitHub is a copy of a repository that you can use to make changes and submit pull requests. It a way to contribute to a project without affecting the original codebase.
Q: How do I fork a repository in GitHub?
A: To fork a repository in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to fork.
- Click on the "Fork" button.
- Fill in the fork name and description.
- Click on the "Fork" button.
Q: What is a clone in GitHub?
A: A clone in GitHub is a copy of a repository that you can use to work on a project locally. It's a way to download a copy of a repository and make changes without affecting the original codebase.
Q: How do I clone a repository in GitHub?
A: To clone a repository in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to clone.
- Click on the "Clone or download" button.
- Copy the clone URL.
- Use a Git client to clone the repository.
Q: What is a merge in GitHub?
A: A merge in GitHub is the process of combining changes from one branch into another. It's a way to integrate changes from a feature branch into the main codebase.
Q: How do I merge a branch in GitHub?
A: To merge a branch in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to merge.
- Click on the "Merge" button.
- Select the branch you want to merge into the main codebase.
- Click on the "Merge" button.
Q: What is a code review in GitHub?
A: A code review in GitHub is the process of reviewing and discussing changes to a codebase. It's a way to ensure that changes are of high quality and meet the project's standards.
Q: How do I create a code review in GitHub?
A: To create a code review in GitHub, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a code review for.
- Click on the "New code review" button.
- Select the branch you want to review.
- Click on the "Create code review" button.
Q: What is a GitHub issue?
A: A GitHub issue is a way to track and discuss bugs or feature requests. It's a way to communicate with other developers and stakeholders about changes to a project.
Q: How do I create a GitHub issue?
A: To create a GitHub issue, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create an issue for.
- Click on the "New issue" button.
- Fill in the issue title and description.
- Click on the "Create issue" button.
Q: What is a GitHub project?
A: A GitHub project is a way to organize and track issues and pull requests. It's a way to manage a project's workflow and collaborate with other developers.
Q: How do I create a GitHub project?
A: To create a GitHub project, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a project for.
- Click on the "New project" button.
- Fill in the project name and description.
- Click on the "Create project" button.
Q: What is a GitHub milestone?
A: A GitHub milestone is a way to track and manage issues and pull requests. It's a way to set deadlines and track progress on a project.
Q: How do I create a GitHub milestone?
A: To create a GitHub milestone, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a milestone for.
- Click on the "New milestone" button.
- Fill in the milestone name and description.
- Click on the "Create milestone" button.
Q: What is a GitHub label?
A: A GitHub label is a way to categorize and filter issues and pull requests. It's a way to organize and track issues and pull requests.
Q: How do I create a GitHub label?
A: To create a GitHub label, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to create a label for.
- Click on the "New label" button.
- Fill in the label name and description.
- Click on the "Create label" button.
Q: What is a GitHub assignee?
A: A GitHub assignee is a way to assign issues and pull requests to specific developers. It's a way to track and manage issues and pull requests.
Q: How do I assign a GitHub issue or pull request?
A: To assign a GitHub issue or pull request, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to assign an issue or pull request for.
- Click on the issue or pull request you want to assign.
- Click on the "Assign" button.
- Select the developer you want to assign the issue or pull request to.
Q: What is a GitHub due date?
A: A GitHub due date is a way to set deadlines for issues and pull requests. It's a way to track and manage issues and pull requests.
Q: How do I set a due date for a GitHub issue or pull request?
A: To set a due date for a GitHub issue or pull request, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Navigate to the repository you want to set a due date for.
- Click on the issue or pull request you want to set a due date for.
- Click on the "Due date" button.
- Select the due date you want to set.
Q: What is a GitHub project board?
A: A GitHub project board is a way to visualize and track issues and pull requests. It's a way to manage a project's workflow and collaborate with other developers.
Q: How do I create a GitHub project board?
A: To create a GitHub project