Introduction to GitHub

Introduction to GitHub

• GitHub provides adaptation control using Git
• It is a conveyed form control framework created by Linus Torvalds
• It facilitates stores, tracks changes, and provides tools to manage code and collaborate with other engineers

Version Control

• GitHub uses Git to manage changes to source code over time
• It allows multiple designers to work on the same project simultaneously without interfering with each other's work
• Users can track and audit the history of changes made to the code base, including who made the changes and why via commit history

Repositories

• Users can create public repositories, which are visible to everyone, or private repositories, which have limited access
• Open repositories are used for open-source projects, while private ones are for exclusive work
• Users can clone repositories to their local machines for development purposes
• Users can fork repositories to work on their own version

Collaboration Tools

• Developers propose changes to a project via pull requests
• Proposed changes can be reviewed and discussed before being merged into the main codebase
• Users can create issues to keep track of work, feature requests, and bugs
• Issues can be assigned, tagged, and discussed within the repository
• Individuals can establish branches separately to work on different features or repairs
• Branching makes it easier to manage various development streams without interfering with the primary codebase

Branching and Merging

• GitHub allows users to create branches to work on different features or fixes independently, without affecting the main codebase
• After a branch's development is finished, it can be merged back into the main branch
• Main branch also known as main or master branch, incorporates the modifications into the source code

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

• GitHub Actions are integrated with continuous integration and delivery technologies
• Users can respond to events like pull requests or code contributions by automating work routines, including launching apps or performing tests

Code Review and Feedback

• Pull requests enable team members to offer suggestions for enhancements and to remark on individual lines of code before changes are merged
• GitHub offers a central location for teams to discuss code, review changes, and provide comments via Collaborative Feedback

Documentation

• Each repository can include a README file that provides information about the project, such as how to install, use, and contribute to it
• GitHub supports a wiki for more extensive documentation and project information

Integration with Other Tools

• GitHub integrates with other external tools and services, such as deployment platforms, testing frameworks, and project management systems via Third-Party Integrations

GitHub Functionality

• GitHub can be used to build coding projects, upload files, and create accounts
• Key for starting collaboration

Creating a Repository

• Users can create a new repository on GitHub to act as the hub of their project

Cloning the Repository

• Use Git to clone the repository to the local computer to create a copy of the code and allows offline operation via Local Development

Making Changes

• Edit documents within the local repository, stage the changes, and commit them to your local branch
• Users can take advantage of Git to generate commits that include modifications and informative notes

Pushing Changes

• Modifications are reflected in the remote repository when contributions are pushed to GitHub by using Update Remote function

Creating a Branch

• New branches are dedicated to working on a particular feature or fix
• This contributes to the main branch's stability, assisting with Feature Development function

Creating a Pull Request

• Create a pull request on GitHub when modifications are complete
• Indicates that the branch should be merged into another branch, usually the main branch, using Merge Proposal

Review and Discuss

• Team members examine the pull request, offer comments, and discuss any adjustments that should be made
• Add further commits to the pull request based on the Peer Review function

Merging

• Integration involves merging the pull request into the target branch after it has been approved
• Modifications are incorporated into the main code base

Resolving Issues

• Track tasks, features, or bugs using issues via Track Progress feature
• Link issues to pull requests that solve particular issues or requests

Continuous Integration and Deployment

• GitHub Actions responds to events like commits or pull requests by launching automated work routines such as tests
• Makes deployment easier and helps guarantee code quality via Automation configuration

Reasons for GitHub's Popularity

• GitHub addresses key needs and challenges in modern software development and project management
• Version control, collaboration, code review, documentation and issue tracking, continuous integration and deployment, open-source community collaboration, project management, security and access control, integration with other tools, visibility, and communication needs are addressed in its capabilities
• It's an essential tool for modern software development by enabling version control, collaboration, code review, project management, and automation
• GitHub improves productivity, quality, and transparency for both individual workers and big teams working on a variety of projects
• GitHub's popularity stems from its vast integration possibilities, community support, powerful collaboration tools, and user-friendly design
• Small and large teams use this all-in-one platform for version control, project management, and automation functions
• GitHub is a focal point for open-source projects

GitHub Sign In

• Enter the GitHub website: https://github.com/login to access the Sign-In page
• Click on the "Sign in" button
• Enter GitHub username or the email address associated with your GitHub account
• Enter GitHub password
• Enter the authentication code generated by your 2FA method if you have enabled two-factor authentication (2FA)

Creating an Account

• Click on the "Create an account" button
• Create a password
• Enter email id and click “Continue”
• Enter a “Username” and click Continue
• Verify the email by giving the launch code, then Sign In to the GitHub page

How to create a New Repository

• Log in to GitHub's homepage and click the "Sign in" button in the top-right corner
• Enter credentials and log in to GitHub account
• Click the "+" icon in the upper-right corner of the page, select "New repository" from the drop down menu
• Enter a descriptive and relevant name for the repository in the Repository Name field
• Provide a short description of what the repository is for in the Description field (optional)
• Choose the visibility of the repository (Public or Private)
• Choose to add a README file, a .gitignore file, or a license via optional checkboxes
• Click the "Create repository" button to finalize the creation of the new repository

Cloning a Repository

• The command to clone a repsitory is: git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-repository-name.git

Add files and Commit

• Add files to local repository, stage them, and commit changes using Git commands
• cd your-repository-name
• git add
• git commit -m "Initial commit"
• git push origin main”

Managing a Repository

• This involves creating issues, managing pull requests, and collaborating with others using the GitHub website

Create a Branch

• Find the drop-down menu for the branch selector on the repository page in the upper left corner
• Marked with the name of the active branch (main, master, etc.)
• Press drop-down menu for the branch selector, an existing branch list is displayed
• In the "Find or create a branch" input field, type the name of the new branch to create
• Tap the "Create branch: [branch-name]" option that slides into view beneath the text box, it will be automatically created/switched to
• Then can be switched to created new branch via confirmation
• Can make changes and commit them to this branch

Making a Commit

• Commit in Git records changes to a local repository using both the Git command line and GitHub's web interface
• Using command line, start with: cd path/to/your-repository
• Check status: git status
• Stage changes: git add filename for specific files, or git add . for all changes
• Make a commit using the command: git commit -m "Your commit message describing the changes"
• To push the commit to a remote repository (GitHub), use git push origin branch-name
• Replace branch-name with the name of the branch you're working on (main or feature-branch)

Edit a File

• Navigate to the file to edit and click on it
• Click the "Edit" button (pencil icon) to open the file in edit mode

Making Changes

• Edit the file as needed directly in the browser

Commit Changes

• Scroll down to the "Commit changes" section
• Enter a commit message to describe changes
• Add a description in the "Extended description" field (optional)
• Choose whether to commit directly to main branch or to a new branch
• Click "Commit changes" to save changes to the repository

Open & Merge Pull request

• Opening and merging pull requests are essential tasks in collaborative software development
• Pull requests (PRs) propose changes to a codebase and request review and merge into another branch (typically main)

Opening a Pull Request

• Navigate to GitHub, open the desired repository you want to open a pull request for
• Open the "Pull requests" tab near the top of the repository page
• Click the New pull request button to start
• Designate the base branch you want to merge changes into (usually main or master)
• Designate the compare branch with your changes (the feature or bugfix branch)
• GitHub will compare these branches and display the differences

Reviewing Changes

• Review the changes that will be merged and the diffs between the branches
• Create the Pull Request
• Click the "Create pull request" button
• Add a clear title
• Add a description explaining changes, reason for request, and any other relevant information
• Assign reviewers or team members
• Add labels for categorize the pull request (bug, feature, enhancement)
• Click the "Create pull request" button to submit request for review

Merging a Pull Request

• Open "Pull requests" tab in the repository

• Click on the desired pull request

• Ensure that the changes have been reviewed and approved by the necessary reviewers

• Review the conversation, code changes, and any associated comments

• Then click the "Merge pull request" button

• A dialog will appear to confirm the merge (edit the commit message if necessary)

• Click "Confirm merge" to complete the process

• To remove the branch used for the pull request, click "Delete branch" if the branch is no longer needed

Case Study: Microsoft

• Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company, and develops sells and supports computer software, electronics and PCs
• Inconsistent on supporting Open source, but after 2000, they become one of the biggest contributors to open source
• Microsoft believes that GitHub’s value is not any one feature but its entire community