Writing code is difficult, but with the appropriate assistance and tools, it's a lot simpler. You'll need version control and the help of other programmers if you want to become an excellent coder. Finding helpful folks who can give you advise and help you elevate your work is crucial in the field of programming, whether they are part of your team or are simply generally knowledgeable with the sort of problem you are attempting to address.


GitHub brings together teams and coding professionals on a single platform where they can exchange ideas and approaches and collaborate to create amazing software. But what exactly is GitHub, what does it accomplish, how does it operate, and why is it so useful? As you learn how to utilize GitHub, this quick GitHub lesson will help you get started.

What exactly is GitHub?


GitHub is one of the world's largest developer communities. It's a complex platform that encourages developer cooperation and communication. GitHub offers a lot of important capabilities that allow development teams to collaborate on the same project and simply build new software versions without interrupting existing ones, but it doesn't stop there.


New improvements to a program, for example, may be readily merged into old programs after they are completed. GitHub also makes it very easy to collaborate on code strings in order to fine-tune and polish even the tiniest details of a program. You may cooperate and work on projects with people from all around the world using GitHub.


That's only scraping the surface, though, because the answer to the question "What is GitHub?" is all about what it can do for you.


What Are GitHub's Advantages?


Why should you use GitHub? There are several causes for this. The first is that it makes collaboration and version management sleek and simple. This enables you to collaborate on code with anybody, from any location. GitHub is also used by a lot of companies. So, if you're looking for work, knowing your way around GitHub will make you stand out. Don't overlook the importance of networking, learning, and building a portfolio. GitHub is a powerful tool for learning and collaboration. Take some time to look around and discover how much it may help you improve your programming skills.


What is GitHub and How Do I Use It?


Although GitHub is complicated, knowing a few fundamentals can help you get started. To use GitHub, you must first be able to perform the following steps. How to make advantage of GitHub:


1. Create an account on GitHub.


You'll need a GitHub account to utilize the service. You may sign up for a free GitHub account and begin using it right now. You may access an infinite number of public and private repositories with a free account. Bug tracking and project management are also included. The main drawback is that private repositories are limited to three participants. Signing up for a free account is a wonderful place to start if you're still in the "GitHub for beginners" stage.


2. Set up Git


Git is the software that powers GitHub. What exactly is Git? Linus Torvald, a programming legend, invented Git, a version-control system. When he was creating the Linux operating system, he invented Git to keep track of changes to source code. Git is a software that allows programmers to collaborate, coordinate work, and work on complicated code and development projects collaboratively. Git keeps track of changes and allows teams to collaborate on complex systems from afar. Install Git on your PC by clicking here. Some people prefer to use Git's command line to make changes. However, for our purposes, we'll concentrate on how to use GitHub.


3. Establish a Repository


To accomplish anything with GitHub, you must first learn how to create a repository. The term "repository" (or "repo") is almost interchangeable with the term "project." Simply said, a repository is a place where everything related to a project is kept, including files, pictures, spreadsheets, data sets, and videos, which are frequently organized into folders. It's ideal to add a README file in your repository that contains unique project-specific information. When you create a new repository on GitHub, you may add a README file straight away.


You'll press "new repository" in the upper-right-hand corner to start a new repository. Then give your repository a name, a brief description, and a check mark next to "start this repository with a README." Finally, select "create repository" from the drop-down menu.


4. Make a new branch


When you're working on a project, you'll need a lot of different program versions. Branching allows you to simultaneously edit many distinct versions of a repository. A master branch is created automatically in your repository. You can make modifications on multiple distinct branches before finally submitting them to the main branch.


When you create a new branch, it will be a duplicate of the master branch until you make modifications to it. Before being merged into the master branch, a branch usually goes through a number of processes and approvals. To create a new branch on GitHub, go to your new repository and select "branch: master" from the dropdown menu. Then press "new branch" and type a branch name (like README-edits). Branches are great for adding new features or fixing bugs.


5. Make changes to a branch and commit them


Go to the code view for your newly established branch in GitHub to make changes. Click the file you wish to update, then click the pencil icon in the top right, make any required changes, write a commit message to describe your changes, and then click "commit changes." A commit is the name given to each stored modification. Every commit has its own commit message, which provides further information about why a particular change was made. The commit messages provide a history of modifications and aid contributors in understanding how the project has evolved over time.


6. Submit a Pull Request to the repository.


You must create a pull request for any branch to be merged into another person's branch. A pull request is GitHub's means of alerting the people who need to know about your request to merge modifications into their branch. The variations in content across branches will be shown in red and green in a pull request. Any time you finish a commit, you can create a pull request. When sending a pull request, utilize the "@" function to specify specific persons from whom you require comments for optimal results.


To create a pull request, go to the "pull request" tab and click the "new pull request" button. Next, locate the branch you created in the "example comparisons" box and compare it to the master. After you've double-checked that the modifications are to your liking, click the "create pull request" button. Your pull request should include a title and a brief description of the modifications. Click "create pull request" to complete.


7. Combine all of your pull requests into one.


You may need to delegate the task of merging your pull request with the master branch to your superiors. You may, however, practice doing it yourself for the purpose of learning. Simply click the "merge pull request" button, pick "confirm merge," and then remove the merged branch after it has been merged into the master.




GitHub: An Introduction to the Open Source Community


In GitHub, there's a lot to discover. So far, we've just scratched the surface, but we hope that this little GitHub lesson was helpful. GitHub is much more than a version-control tool, as you'll shortly discover. It's almost like a social networking site for programmers, you'll notice. You may access millions of open source projects through the GitHub open source community. There, you may participate in a project or establish one of your own. Working on open source software is a fantastic opportunity to pick up new skills and interact with smart programmers who can teach you a lot.


Getting Your GitHub Profile Noticed


GitHub is a fantastic way to not only learn more about programming, but also to show off your greatest work. Recruiters can discover you and contact you about prospective employment and projects through your GitHub profile. Many individuals try to get GitHub followers by publishing interesting and informative blog articles, podcasts, or YouTube GitHub lessons. The more followers you have, the more possibilities you'll have, and the better chance you'll have of being a programming thought leader.


With GitHub, you can learn and grow.


The greatest programmers are continuously on the lookout for new things to learn. The field of computer programming is always changing, and new issues are handled with code on a daily basis. You must always seek new methods to solve issues in order to stay sharp. You should be experimenting with new ideas and cooperating with other programmers. Although the coding community is close-knit, it is also vast. There are so many people from whom to learn. GitHub provides a ton of tools that let you collaborate with and learn from the finest in the business. Take some time to go around GitHub and see how you may reach your full potential as a coder.