If you're a developer or a tech enthusiast, chances are you've heard of GitHub, the world's largest and most popular online community for version control and collaborative software development.
Getting Started with Git and Version Control
Version control is a system that helps developers manage and update their source codes over time.
Version control, in the context of software development, is like two artists working on the same painting but each using a separate canvas. This way, they can make changes to their respective canvases without interfering with each other's work.
Once they are both happy with their canvases, they can merge them to create a final artwork that incorporates the best of both.
In the same way, version control allows developers to work on their copies of the code without disrupting each other's work. They can make changes, fix errors, and test their changes without affecting the main version of the code. Once they're satisfied with their changes, they can merge them to create a final version that includes the best features of each contribution. This makes for a smoother and more efficient development process and helps ensure that the final product is of high quality.
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a website that lets developers use a system called Git to track changes in their software code. It's like a big online folder where they can store and manage their code. With GitHub, developers can work together on a project and keep track of who made what changes and when. They can also use Git to roll back to previous versions of the code if something goes wrong. GitHub has many features that make it easy for developers to review each other's work, suggest changes, and improve their code.
What Should I Know About Github as a Developer?
GitHub is the go-to platform for developers who want to streamline their workflow, collaborate effectively, and contribute to the wider tech community. The following are reasons you should consider looking into GitHub as a developer:
GitHub allows remote software collaboration via its distributed version control system.
GitHub gives developers a platform to interact socially with other developers.
It also functions as a platform that assists individual developers in maintaining, managing, and updating their source codes whenever necessary, even after they have lost them from their local computers.
Key Features or Commands of Github
Repository
A repository on GitHub is similar to a folder on a computer, but it's hosted online, and it's where developers store their source code and make it available to others. A repository has a name, a description that explains what it contains, and a README file that provides a brief overview of the project or code inside the repository.
Collaboration
GitHub's main feature is collaboration, which allows developers from anywhere in the world to work together on the same project without needing to be in the same physical location.
git pull
To bring a local copy of code up to date with remote changes, developers use the "git pull" command.
git push
git push is used to update the remote repository with changes made locally, which involves sending your code from your computer to GitHub.
-
One cool feature you will see on GitHub is the contribution chart.
A GitHub contribution graph is a visual representation of a user's activity on a repository, displayed as a grid of boxes that are colored green to indicate the number of commits and pushes made by the user. The color of the boxes can be customized.
git commit
This command is used as a snapshot or to save changes made to source code before it is pushed to the remote repository.
git add
This command is used to stage or include the codes the user wishes to save (commit) before pushing them to GitHub.
How can I connect to the GitHub Platform?
To access GitHub on their PC or mobile device, developers can visit Github by following the link below and creating an account, with a signup process that is straightforward and takes only a few minutes to complete.
How do I send my source code to GitHub?
The following steps will guide you on how to upload your code to GitHub from your local machine:
git add: Remember, this includes the files you want to save (commit).
git commit: This command takes a snapshot of your code (keeps track of the changes) and prepares it to be sent to GitHub.
git push: This command will send your source code to GitHub.
In summary, GitHub is an essential tool for developers, offering user-friendly features like collaboration and repositories that enable better code reviews and a secure location to store code. As a developer, being familiar with GitHub is a must-have skill in today's tech industry.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch with me, please feel free to reach out. You can follow me on Twitter (@Yaw__Amponsah) for updates on my latest articles and other computer science-related topics. Additionally, you may send an email to the address listed (yawamp27@gmail.com), and I will do my best to respond as promptly as possible. Your feedback is valuable to me, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss any topics related to computer science and programming. Thank you again for reading, and I look forward to hearing from you.