Exercise: Introduction To GitHub
Introduction to GitHub

Welcome to Your Skills Exercise!
👋 Hey there tapokmen666! Welcome to your Skills exercise! If you're 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 the community and receive feedback and contributions.
Creating a GitHub Account
To get started with GitHub, you'll need to create an account. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Go to GitHub.com: Navigate to the GitHub website and click on the "Sign up" button.
- Choose a username: Select a unique username that will identify you on GitHub.
- Create a password: Choose a strong password that meets GitHub's security requirements.
- Add your email address: Enter your email address to receive notifications and updates from GitHub.
- Verify your email address: GitHub will send a verification email to your email address. Click on the link in the email to verify your account.
Understanding GitHub Terminology
Before we dive into the exercise, let's cover some essential GitHub terminology:
- Repository (or repo): A repository is a collection of files and folders that make up a project.
- Branch: A branch is a separate line of development in a repository. It allows developers to work on different features or versions of a project simultaneously.
- Commit: A commit is a snapshot of changes made to a repository. It's like saving a version of your project.
- Pull request: A pull request is a request to merge changes from one branch into another.
Exercise: Create a New Repository
Now that you have a GitHub account and understand the basics, let's create a new repository. Here's what you need to do:
- Log in to GitHub: Navigate to the GitHub website and log in to your account.
- Click on the "+" button: Click on the "+" button in the top-right corner of the GitHub dashboard.
- Choose a repository type: Select "New repository" from the dropdown menu.
- Enter repository details: Enter a name, description, and visibility for your repository.
- Create the repository: Click on the "Create repository" button to create your new repository.
Exercise: Create a New File
Now that you have a new repository, let's create a new file. Here's what you need to do:
- Navigate to your repository: Navigate to your new repository by clicking on its name in the GitHub dashboard.
- Click on the "+" button: Click on the "+" button in the top-right corner of the repository page.
- Choose a file type: Select "New file" from the dropdown menu.
- Enter file details: Enter a name and content for your new file.
- Create the file: Click on the "Create file" button to create your new file.
Exercise: Commit Changes
Now that you have a new file, let's commit the changes. Here's what you need to do:
- Navigate to your repository: Navigate to your repository by clicking on its name in the GitHub dashboard.
- Click on the "Code" tab: Click on the "Code" tab in the top navigation bar.
- Select the file: Select the file you created in the previous exercise.
- Enter a commit message: Enter a commit message to describe the changes you made.
- Commit the changes: Click on the "Commit changes" button to commit the changes.
Conclusion
Introduction
GitHub is a powerful tool for version control and collaboration on software development projects. However, it can be overwhelming for beginners. In this article, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about GitHub to help you get started.
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: How do I create a GitHub account?
A: To create a GitHub account, follow these steps:
- Go to GitHub.com and click on the "Sign up" button.
- Choose a unique username that will identify you on GitHub.
- Create a strong password that meets GitHub's security requirements.
- Add your email address to receive notifications and updates from GitHub.
- Verify your email address by clicking on the link in the verification email.
Q: What is a repository?
A: A repository (or repo) is a collection of files and folders that make up a project. It's the central location where you store and manage your code.
Q: How do I create a new repository?
A: To create a new repository, follow these steps:
- Log in to your GitHub account.
- Click on the "+" button in the top-right corner of the GitHub dashboard.
- Choose "New repository" from the dropdown menu.
- Enter a name, description, and visibility for your repository.
- Click on the "Create repository" button to create your new repository.
Q: What is a branch?
A: A branch is a separate line of development in a repository. It allows developers to work on different features or versions of a project simultaneously.
Q: How do I create a new branch?
A: To create a new branch, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your repository.
- Click on the "Code" tab in the top navigation bar.
- Click on the "New branch" button.
- Enter a name for your new branch.
- Click on the "Create branch" button to create your new branch.
Q: What is a commit?
A: A commit is a snapshot of changes made to a repository. It's like saving a version of your project.
Q: How do I commit changes?
A: To commit changes, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your repository.
- Click on the "Code" tab in the top navigation bar.
- Select the file you want to commit.
- Enter a commit message to describe the changes you made.
- Click on the "Commit changes" button to commit the changes.
Q: What is a pull request?
A: A pull request is a request to merge changes from one branch into another. It's a way to review and discuss changes before merging them into the main branch.
Q: How do I create a pull request?
A: To create a pull request, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your repository.
- Click on the "Pull requests" tab in the top navigation bar.
- Click on the "New pull request" button.
- Select the branch you want to merge into the main branch.
- Click on the "Create pull request" button to create your pull request.
Q: What is GitHub Desktop?
A: GitHub Desktop is a free app that allows you to manage your GitHub repositories and collaborate with others on your local machine.
Q: How do I install GitHub Desktop?
A: To install GitHub Desktop, follow these steps:
- Go to the GitHub Desktop website and download the app.
- Follow the installation instructions to install the app.
- Launch the app and sign in to your GitHub account.
Q: What is GitHub CLI?
A: GitHub CLI is a command-line interface that allows you to manage your GitHub repositories and collaborate with others from the command line.
Q: How do I install GitHub CLI?
A: To install GitHub CLI, follow these steps:
- Go to the GitHub CLI website and download the app.
- Follow the installation instructions to install the app.
- Launch the app and sign in to your GitHub account.
Conclusion
We hope this Q&A article has helped you understand the basics of GitHub and answered some of your frequently asked questions. Remember, practice makes perfect, so be sure to experiment with GitHub and try new things. If you have any more questions or need help, don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your future projects!