GitHub Overview
GitHub is a web-based hosting service for version control using Git. It offers all of the distributed version control and source code management (SCM) functionality of Git plus additional features like access control, bug tracking, and feature requests.
Key Features
- Git Repository Hosting: Unlimited public and private repositories
- Collaboration Tools: Issues, pull requests, and discussions
- GitHub Actions: CI/CD automation
- GitHub Pages: Free static site hosting
- Code Review: In-line comments and review requests
- Project Management: Projects, milestones, and labels
- Security Features: Dependabot, code scanning, and secret scanning
Getting Started
Setup Steps:
- Create an account at github.com
- Set up SSH keys for secure authentication
- Configure Git with your GitHub credentials
- Create a new repository or fork an existing one
- Clone the repository to your local machine
- Start committing and pushing changes
Core Concepts:
Repository
Contains all project files and revision history
Branch
Isolated line of development
Pull Request
Propose changes and discuss them before merging
Fork
Personal copy of someone else's project
Productivity Tips
Keyboard Shortcuts
- .: Open repository in web editor
- t: File finder
- g c: Go to Code tab
- g i: Go to Issues
GitHub CLI
Use GitHub's command line tool for managing repositories and issues.
Issue Templates
Create standardized issue templates for your projects.
GitHub Actions
Automate workflows for CI/CD and other tasks.