Mastering Git & GitHub: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Learn the basics of Git and GitHub, including repositories, commits, branches, merges, and pull requests. This step-by-step guide is perfect for beginners who want to manage code efficiently and collaborate with others. Read more >

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Git & GitHub: A Simple Guide

Git is a version control system used by developers to track changes in code. GitHub is a platform that hosts Git repositories online, making it easier to share code and collaborate with others.

Whether you are a student, a developer, or someone learning programming, understanding Git and GitHub is essential. In this guide, we’ll explain the key concepts and commands in simple terms.

1. Git Repository (Repo)

A repository is where your project files and history are stored. Every project you create or contribute to will have a repository.

Steps to create a repo on GitHub:

Log in to GitHub and click New Repository.
Give it a name, for example, my-first-project.
Add a description if needed.
Choose Public to allow others to see it or Private to keep it personal.
Click Create Repository.

Clone a repo to your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/username/repo-name.git

2. Git Commit

A commit is like a snapshot of your project at a particular point in time. It helps you track changes.

Commands:

Stage changes:
```
git add filename
```
Commit changes:
```
git commit -m "Added a new feature"
```

3. Branching in Git

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

Commands:

Create a branch:
```
git branch feature-branch
```
Switch to a branch:
```
git checkout feature-branch
```

4. Git Merge

Merging brings changes from one branch into another. For example, when a feature is ready, you merge it into the main branch.

Merge a branch:

git checkout main

git merge feature-branch

Tip: If there are conflicts, Git will ask you to resolve them manually before completing the merge.

5. Pull and Push

To synchronize your local repo with GitHub:

Pull changes from GitHub:
```
git pull origin main
```
Push local commits to GitHub:
```
git push origin main
```

6. Forking and Pull Requests

Forking: Makes your own copy of someone else’s repository so you can make changes.
Pull Request: After making changes in your fork, you can request the original repo owner to merge your changes.