GitHub¶

What is GitHub¶

GitHub is a cloud-based platform for version control and collaboration built around Git. It allows developers to store, track, and manage code changes, work together on projects, and maintain repositories.

Key Concepts¶

1. Repository (Repo)¶

A repository is a folder where your project files and their version history are stored. It can be:

Public → visible to everyone.
Private → visible only to you and collaborators.

2. Commit¶

A snapshot of your code at a specific time. Each commit has:

A commit message describing the change.
A unique hash ID for reference.

3. Branch¶

Branches allow you to work on different features without affecting the main code.

main/master → stable production version.
feature branches → for new features or bug fixes.

4. Pull Request (PR)¶

A request to merge changes from one branch (like feature) into another (like main). Used in team projects for:

Code review
Discussion
Testing before merging

5. Merge¶

Combining changes from different branches. Usually happens after a pull request is approved.

6. Fork¶

A copy of another user’s repository on your own account. Used to:

Contribute to open-source projects
Experiment with code without affecting the original repo

7. Clone¶

Download a repository from GitHub to your local machine using:

git clone <repo-url>

8. Remote¶

A version of your project hosted on GitHub. The local and remote repositories sync through commands like:

git push      # Upload changes
git pull      # Download updates
git fetch     # Get changes without merging

Common GitHub Features¶

1. Issues¶

Used to track bugs, enhancements, or tasks. Each issue can have:

Labels
Assignees
Comments

2. Projects¶

Visual boards to organize work (like Kanban or Scrum boards).

3. Actions (CI/CD)¶

Automate workflows such as:

Testing code
Building projects
Deploying applications

Example YAML file:

name: Node.js CI
on: [push]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm test

4. Discussions¶

For community Q&A and brainstorming ideas.

5. Wiki¶

A built-in documentation system for repositories.

6. Releases¶

Used to package and version software with changelogs and assets.

GitHub Commands (Basic)¶

git init                 # Initialize new Git repo
git clone <url>          # Clone remote repo
git add .                # Stage all changes
git commit -m "message"  # Commit changes
git push origin main     # Push changes to GitHub
git pull origin main     # Pull latest changes
git branch               # List branches
git checkout -b feature  # Create and switch to a new branch
git merge feature         # Merge feature branch into current

GitHub Collaboration Workflow¶

Fork the main repository
Clone it locally
Create a new branch
Make changes and commit
Push branch to GitHub
Create Pull Request
Wait for review and merge

GitHub Profile Features¶

Pinned Repositories: Highlight top projects.
README Profile: Personal introduction using markdown.
Contributions Graph: Shows daily coding activity.
Stars: Show appreciation for other repos.
Followers/Following: Build a developer network.

Markdown Example for Profile README¶

# Hi there 👋, I'm [Your Name]

💻 Web Developer | 🚀 Open Source Enthusiast

### 🧠 Skills

- HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React
- Node.js, Python

### 🌱 Currently Learning

Next.js, TypeScript, and API integration

### 📫 Connect with me

[LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/yourprofile) | [GitHub](https://github.com/yourusername)

Benefits of Using GitHub¶

Backup and sync code online
Version control with Git
Team collaboration tools
Open-source community support
Automation and deployment (CI/CD)
Integration with IDEs and services

GitHub Desktop¶

A GUI version of Git that simplifies Git operations (commit, push, pull, etc.) without terminal commands.

Summary Table¶

Concept	Purpose
Repository	Store code and history
Branch	Work on new features safely
Commit	Save project snapshot
Pull Request	Propose and review changes
Fork	Copy repo for personal use
Clone	Download repo locally
Issue	Track bugs and tasks
Actions	Automate workflows