Github for bigenners

GitHub for Beginners: Practical Version Control and Collaboration

 

Introduction to Git and GitHub

Objective: Understand the basics of Git and GitHub, set up the environment, and learn how to manage repositories.

Topics:

  1. What is Git?

    • Introduction to version control.
    • Difference between Git and GitHub.

  2. Setting Up Git

    • Install Git (Windows, macOS, Linux).
    • Configure Git (username, email).

  3. Creating a GitHub Account

    • Navigating the GitHub interface.
    • Overview of repositories, branches, commits.

  4. Creating Your First Repository

    • Initializing a repository.
    • Pushing a local repository to GitHub.

  5. Basic Git Commands

    • git init, git add, git commit, git status, git push, git pull.

Hands-on Assignment:

  • Install Git, configure it, and create a GitHub account.
  • Create a new repository and push a basic project to GitHub.
  • Perform basic operations like commit and push changes.

What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system used to track changes in the source code during software development. It helps developers collaborate on projects, keep track of different versions of code, and revert to earlier versions if needed. Git allows multiple people to work on the same project simultaneously without overwriting each other's work.

Introduction to Version Control

Version control is a system that records changes to files over time, so you can track modifications, compare versions, and revert back to previous versions if necessary. Git is one of the most popular version control systems used today because of its efficiency, flexibility, and distributed nature.

Difference between Git and GitHub

  • Git: A command-line tool that allows developers to track and manage changes in their code. It operates on your local machine.
  • GitHub: A cloud-based platform built on top of Git, where developers can store and share their Git repositories. It adds features like collaboration tools, pull requests, and issue tracking. GitHub is often used to host public and private repositories and manage teams in software development projects.

Setting Up Git

  1. Install Git (Windows, macOS, Linux):
    To start using Git, you need to install it on your system:

    • Windows: Download Git from git-scm.com and install it.
    • macOS: Install Git using Homebrew by running brew install git.
    • Linux: Install Git by using your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install git for Ubuntu).

  2. Configure Git (username, email):
    After installation, you must configure Git with your username and email address, which will be associated with your Git commits:

Working with Branches and Collaborating

Objective: Learn how to manage branches and collaborate with others on GitHub.

Topics:

  1. Branching in Git

    • Understanding branches (main, feature branches).
    • Creating and switching between branches.

  2. Merging Branches

    • Merging a feature branch into the main branch.
    • Resolving merge conflicts.

  3. Collaborating on GitHub

    • Forking repositories.
    • Cloning repositories.
    • Pull requests: Creating, reviewing, and merging.

  4. GitHub Flow

    • Best practices for branching and merging.

Hands-on Assignment:

  • Create a new branch in your repository.
  • Make changes, commit them, and merge the branch into the main branch.
  • Fork another repository, make a change, and submit a pull request.

Advanced Git and GitHub Features

Objective: Explore more advanced Git commands and features like issues, pull requests, and GitHub Pages.

Topics:

  1. Git Reset, Revert, and Rebase

    • Undoing changes with git reset and git revert.
    • Rewriting commit history with git rebase.

  2. GitHub Issues

    • Creating, assigning, and managing issues.
    • Using labels, milestones, and projects to organize tasks.

  3. Pull Request Reviews

    • How to review and give feedback on pull requests.
    • Using GitHub’s code review tools effectively.

  4. Introduction to GitHub Pages

    • Setting up a simple static website with GitHub Pages.

Hands-on Assignment:

  • Practice using git reset, git revert, and git rebase.
  • Create issues for tasks in your repository and assign them to collaborators.
  • Create a GitHub Pages site to host a personal portfolio or project.

 Automating and Managing Projects with GitHub

Objective: Automate workflows, manage larger projects, and understand GitHub’s collaborative features.

Topics:

  1. GitHub Actions

    • Automating workflows using GitHub Actions.
    • Building, testing, and deploying projects automatically.

  2. Managing Large Projects

    • Using GitHub Projects for task management.
    • Collaborating with large teams using organizations and teams in GitHub.

  3. Security Best Practices

    • Setting up branch protection rules.
    • Managing access control (repository visibility, collaborator permissions).

  4. Exploring GitHub Marketplace

    • Using tools and integrations from the GitHub Marketplace.

Final Project:

  • Create a collaborative project that includes multiple branches, contributors, and automation using GitHub Actions.
  • Document the project using GitHub’s issue tracking and project boards.

Resources:

  • GitHub Documentation: Official guide for Git and GitHub.
  • GitHub Learning Lab: Guided exercises on GitHub.
  • Pro Git Book: A comprehensive guide to Git
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