What Is GitHub? A Beginner’s Introduction

Updated August 30, 2024

Table of Contents

What Is GitHub?

A for-profit organization that provides cloud-based Git repository hosting services is GitHub. In essence, it makes using Git for version control and collaboration much simpler for individuals and teams.

Even novice programmers can benefit from Git because its user-friendly interface is so user-friendly. Using Git typically necessitates a little more technical savvy and the use of the command line without Git Hub.

However, some people use GitHub to manage other types of projects, such as writing books, because it is so user-friendly.

Anyone can sign up for and host a public code repository for free, which makes GitHub particularly well-known for open-source projects.

GitHub is a startup that sells hosted private code repositories and other business-focused products that help enterprises manage security and team members more easily.

What Is Git?

Over 87% of developers use Git for their projects, making it one of the most well-known VCSs on the market. It was an open-source project that was launched in 2005.

A distributed version control system is what it is. In other words, Git command line tools can be used by any team member with access to manage the source code and its history of changes.

Git provides feature branches as opposed to centralized version control systems. This implies that each team member’s software engineer has the ability to separate a feature branch, which offers an isolated local repository for code changes.

The master branch, which houses the original project code, is unaffected by feature branches. The feature branch can be merged back into the master branch once the changes have been made and the updated code is ready, making the project changes effective.

What Is Version Control?

A system that records each change, including authorship, timestamp, and other details, and aids in managing change is what version control is defined as. It helps to manage change by tracking the progress of code across the software development lifecycle and its multiple iterations.

Version control, also known as revision control, or source control systems, is used to control and manage changes to software code. Version control systems, or software development tools, aid in documenting changes to source code over time.

Software teams may now work more quickly and intelligently thanks to version control technologies, especially in larger development environments. They will help DevOps teams expedite effective deployments and shorten development times, which is why they are advantageous.

How does GitHub work?

Users of GitHub can register for accounts, upload files, and build coding projects. But when users start working together, GitHub really takes off.

Although anyone can code on their own, most development projects are built by teams of people. These teams occasionally work simultaneously, but more frequently they do so asynchronously. The development of collaborative projects with distributed teams presents numerous difficulties. There are several ways that GitHub makes this process much easier.

First, there is a single location for all the code and documentation. This makes it easier for anyone to contribute to a project to do so. To help define project objectives and rules, each repository also includes instructions and other information.

Next, coding is more abstract and creative than most non-technical people realize. Let’s say two developers are collaborating on various pieces of code. These two programs ought to function together. However, occasionally one line of code can cause another to fail. Or one line of code may unexpectedly affect the operation of another.

By demonstrating how both files will switch to the main branch, GitHub resolves these issues. The coding process is made more effective by catching these errors before pushing changes.

Additionally, GitHub makes it simpler to track changes and restore projects to earlier iterations. We’ll need to discuss version control and the technology on which GitHub is based in order to explain this.

GitHub use cases

In a variety of situations, software projects can be stored, tracked, and collaborated on using Git Hub:

Businesses use GitHub as a version control system to monitor source code changes as developers work together. Project management is made easier by allowing multiple coders to work on a project at once and making sure everyone is working on the most recent version of the code. Additionally, it enables the use of earlier versions in case developers need to refer to them. Because code is kept in a central location on Git Hub, it is possible for developers to share code. Because it is a standardized method of code storage, GitHub Enterprise also aids in regulatory compliance.
Programming instructors and students use GitHub in a variety of ways. Teachers and students can access a variety of inexpensive resources through the Student Developer Pack. The platform is used by students to host virtual events, learn web development, and collaborate on original development projects.
Open-source software developers share projects on GitHub with people who would like to work together or use the software. Before changes are made final, developers network, collaborate, and present their work to other developers in real-time, identifying errors in proposed code. GitHub is categorized as a social media website because of its networking and collaboration features; in the repository notes, there are frequent links to other community websites, like Reddit. Applications are available for download from GitHub as well.
Nonprogrammers work on multimedia and document-based projects using GitHub. Version control features are helpful for teamwork, and the platform is easy to use. An extensive manual on the command line, for instance, is The Art of the Command Line. Electronic musician Aphex Twin’s tool for producing experimental music is called Samplebrain. And there’s a cookbook collection called the Open-Source Cookbook.

What is GitHub used for?

Software developers and engineers can create free, public-facing cloud repositories remotely with GitHub. The files and revision history of a coding project are stored in a repository, or simply “repo”.

A repository on GitHub can be created, copied to your device, edited, and added locally, and then you can “push” your changes back to the repository to make them visible to the public.

So, in comparison to developing with a private repository, why would you choose GitHub? The following are the main explanations for GitHub’s prominence:

Enhanced Collaboration

GitHub’s features for project collaboration, such as version control and access control, are its main selling points.

To give you an idea of what GitHub can do, picture this. You ask your friend for assistance when you want to code an online game.

You create a GitHub repository and grant your friend collaborator access to it, so they can store all the files—both older and newer versions.

While your partner handles the game’s menu and settings screens, you choose to focus on the main gameplay and screens. You establish a branch—a separate development area—where your teammate can build out their screens so that you can both push your changes at once without interfering with one another’s work. You keep working in your branch in the interim.

Your friend can request a pull request to combine their work with yours once they’ve finished it. You can combine your branches and code if you give your approval.

Easy File Management

You are not restricted to a single device or environment when you use GitHub.

A chic graphical user interface (GUI) is added by GitHub on top of Git. Git functions independently via the command line, which is a computer’s text-based interface. Although many developers are proficient with the command line, it’s not always the most effective way to work with files.

The GitHub interface makes it simple and intuitive to view file histories and carry out Git operations. This is more approachable for novices learning Git and more practical for developers.

An additional feature that increases accessibility for GitHub is its cloud-based infrastructure. A GitHub user can download their repository, upload changes, and access it from any location or device.

Social Networking

Any GitHub user is aware that the platform offers more than just code-writing tools. Anyone can view their public-facing profile and repositories on Git Hub, where all users have profiles to show their projects, contributions, and activity on the site.

The social network on GitHub is essential to its success because it encourages developers to explore and participate in a variety of open-source projects. In the past, prospective collaborators had to get in touch with project owners directly to request their consent.

It’s simple to fork a project and then pull requests on Git Hub. Before approving someone’s request, a project owner can review their profile and prior contributions.

GitHub functions as a virtual portfolio that allows users to present their projects to potential employers. For instance, because prospects’ code is publicly accessible for inspection, recruiters frequently use GitHub to find talent.

Open-Source Projects

The advantages we’ve discovered have fueled an upsurge in open-source collaboration, which has resulted in the development of numerous widely used software technologies. Without open GitHub repositories, many impressive feats wouldn’t exist, from CSS frameworks to data visualization libraries to a game you might spend too much time playing.

Anyone who wants to learn programming can now create software on Git Hub, following the trend of Web 2.0, fostering a vibrant, creative, and productive community.

What are GitHub’s Features?

Easy Project Management: To ensure that projects are transparent and on schedule, project managers and developers collaborate on GitHub to coordinate, track, and update their work.

Increased Safety with Packages: Packages may be made public to the open-source community, privately, or within the team. Downloading the packages from GitHub allows for their use or reuse.
Effective Team Management: All team members can stay organized and on the same page with the aid of Git Hub. The team can concentrate on the code with the aid of moderation tools like Issue and Pull Request Locking.
Improved Code Writing: Organizations can review, create, and suggest new code with the aid of pull requests. Before altering the source code, team members can discuss any implementations and proposals using these.
Increased Code Safety: To find and analyze code vulnerabilities that other tools frequently overlook, GitHub uses specialized tools. Everywhere, development teams collaborate to completely secure the software supply chain.
Easy Code Hosting: The documentation and code are all in one location. On GitHub, there are millions of repositories, and every repository has its own set of tools to facilitate hosting and releasing code.

Benefits of GitHub

1. Contributing to your open-source projects is simple thanks to it.

To be completely honest, almost all open-source projects manage their projects using Git Hub. If your project is open source, has a wiki, and has an issue tracker, using GitHub is free. This makes it simple to include more in-depth documentation and receive project feedback. Using the GitHub web interface, you can fork a project, make your changes, and then pull requests.

2. Documentation

You can obtain excellent documentation more easily by using Git Hub. Nearly every topic relating to git that comes to mind is covered in their help section and guides.

3. Showcase your work

Do you want to draw in recruiters as a developer? The most reliable tool for this is GitHub. These days, the majority of businesses check GitHub profiles when hiring new employees for their projects. Even if you don’t come from a prestigious university or college, your chances of getting hired will increase if your profile is visible.

4. Markdown

Writing formatted documents with a basic text editor is made possible by Markdown. By using Markdown for everything—including user comments and the issue tracker—GitHub has completely transformed writing. It’s really a huge advantage to have your content inputted in a format without having to learn yet another system, especially with so many other programming languages to learn for setting up projects.

5. GitHub is a repository

Although GitHub is a repository, it should be noted that this has already been mentioned.

This indicates that it enables the public to view your work. Additionally, GitHub has a lot of exposure for your project because it is currently one of the biggest coding communities.

6. Track changes in your code across versions

This implies that it makes it possible for the public to see your work. Additionally, GitHub is one of the biggest coding communities on the planet at the moment, giving your project a lot of exposure.

7. Integration options

Although it has already been stated, it is crucial to remember that GitHub is a repository.

GitHub can be integrated with popular cloud computing platforms like Amazon and Google Cloud, as well as services like Code Climate for tracking your feedback and syntax highlighting across more than 200 programming languages.

How to Get Started Using GitHub

How to begin is as follows. A quick note: Since Git’s interface is the terminal, you should become accustomed to using the command line before working with Git Hub.

Install GIT: On your device, install the most recent Git version. To use your GitHub repository, Git must be installed. Follow the advice on the Git website as there are many ways to accomplish this. Git is a free piece of software.
Sign up for GitHub: Create an account with your email address on the GitHub website after installing Git.
Start a repository: You will be directed to your dashboard once your GitHub account has been created. Click Create Repository to launch your first repository. This enables you to maintain a single location for all of your new GitHub project’s code.
Name your project: Enter the name of your repository and an optional description (which you can edit later) on the “Create a new repository” screen.
Add project details: Add a.gitignore file (which eliminates unnecessary files like.DS_Store), a README file (a text file that describes your project and outlines best practices in development), and a license for your project all on the same screen.
Create your repository: To create a repository, click. Your files are listed on the main repository page that will be displayed to you.
Create a local copy of your repository: You can now edit your files and push your changes into a local copy of your GitHub repository (or “clone” it as it is known on Git). Click the green Code button on your main repository page, then copy the repository’s HTTPS URL.Why do you need to clone your repository when you already have a copy of your project on your hard drive? Because it is simple to see when files have been added or deleted, this is the best practice. Additionally, fixing merge conflicts is made simpler.
Choose a directory: To place your repository copy, open your terminal and go to the desired directory.
Paste your repository URL: Enter git clone in the terminal. Paste the repository URL you copied earlier after this. This should be how your command appears:
Clone and check your copied repository: To clone the repository, press Enter. Your repository’s name will appear as a new file in your local filesystem. You can find the files in your GitHub repository in this file if you open it. These are copies of the files in your repository that you can edit before returning to it.
Create a new file in your new repository: Create a new file in your cloned repository, then upload it to GitHub to wrap things up. Create a new text file called hello in your local clone. txt. Paste the phrase “Hello, world!” into it. Save the file, then.
Prepare to push your files: Go to the location of your cloned repository in the terminal. Next, input git add. and hit Return. This gets ready to push every file from your cloned repository.
Commit your changes to the changelog: Type git commit -m “added hello.txt” in the terminal and hit Enter. Your changes are now committed to the changelog. The text enclosed in quotation marks is a comment that summarises the commit’s goal.
Push your cloned repository files: In the terminal, type git push origin main, then hit Enter.
Check for your new file: You should see the addition of your new file in your GitHub repository. You’re now prepared to start working on your new project and collaborating on it.