GitHub is an online hosting primarily for version controlled computer code. Think of Github as a cloud-based service for developing code and other similar file types. Github boasts over 30 million users sharing, developing and working together to create the software of tomorrow.
It hosts source code projects in different programming languages ??and tracks every iteration and every change. Plus, everyone on your team can work together on the same projects from anywhere in the world.
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GitHub is most useful for projects with multiple employees. This also means that software and application teams can use a centralized repository where users can download, manage, and make changes synchronously.
When using other cloud systems such as Dropbox, changes can be reversed. Whoever is the first to save their work takes precedence over another team member who may be trying to make changes at the same time.
Although GitHub is primarily used by engineers and programmers, it can be used by people with less technical experience as a way to share any type of file and work together.
For example, team members who need to make changes to Word documents can often take advantage of version control capabilities.
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1. Keep track of your coding projects
At the heart of the GitHub platform is the ability to track projects using Git‘s distributed revision control system (a program that tracks changes and changes made to files).
Team members can view a complete overview of any project. The progress bar will display active tasks, a to-do list, and what has been completed.
GitHub also allows users to track the project board of other organizations by entering the project URL in the comment field. Optionally, you can turn off tracking for any project.
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2. Use keyboard shortcuts
Most of us are familiar with using keyboard shortcuts as a way to more quickly complete multiple or repetitive tasks.
Almost every GitHub page has a list of shortcuts that can be used on that particular page. You can access the shortcut by typing “?” into the dialog box.
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3. Explore other projects
Most development teams use GitHub to host and manage their own projects. However, it also helps you see how others are using the platform and review their projects. You can get new ideas, ideas and inspiration to use in your own projects.
Check out what’s going on in the GitHub community, chat with other contributors, and search by shortcuts or topics for more information.
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For a platform primarily designed for programming, Github is incredibly “human-friendly†and stands out as a user-centered and community-focused environment. Their emphasis on user-centered development is embedded in the culture of Github itself, which ranks among the twenty most comfortable workplaces in the world.
4. More than just encryption
Many people think that GitHub is only useful for developers. However, it is also a resource for many other niches. The two main GitHub collaboration features that are useful to everyone are branching and forking.
Forking allows users to create a copy or clone of someone else’s work, if they have access to it. The primary hyperlink to the source can be maintained while the developer is testing the content, making edits and corrections.
With the branching tool, users can create a temporary copy of a resource. This prevents different users working on the same content at the same time from making incompatible changes to the project.
Branching and forking are valuable tools for users working on synergistic projects. Below are a few advantages that can be enjoyed not only by programmers, but also by teams of any type:
- Travel Journals
- Legal Documents
- Musical Compositions
- Data Visualization for Journalists
- Blogging and Content Marketing
- Recipe Sharing
5. Create a warehouse
A repository is a great way to describe the space your project lives in. You can choose where to store your data:
- Any online host
- Folder on your computer
- Where to store GitHub
You can store any type of file in the repository, including images, text, and code files. Getting started with your first repository is not difficult. First, you need to create your own GitHub account.
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The next step is to click on the plus + sign in the upper right corner when logging in. Select “new repository”.
Then you will see a screen that looks like this:
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Please note that repositories are public by default. If you want limited access and you don’t want everyone to see your progress, you can only select who you want to see your content for. If you prefer to keep your privacy, you will have to switch to a paid service.
6. Use READMEs effectively
The purpose of the README file is to get users interested in your project. You can add your file when you start creating the dedicated repository.
Those using the WordPress platform are familiar with the README files. Before installing plugins, your team can read this file to get a clearer idea of ??what the plugin can do and how best to use it.
Don’t make the file long and boring, as it is more likely to scare away users rather than force them to read on. Some recommended best practices for README files include:
- Descriptive headers
- Header images
- External links to additional documentation
- Brief feature lists
- Clear and concise summaries
7. Follow others
Interact with others on GitHub by following their profile. You will be able to track what others are working on from public repositories, as well as receive notifications of their activity in your personal dashboard on Github.
You will find many great ideas for your own development projects, you will be able to collaborate with team members in your niche or workgroup and share your knowledge and experience.
To subscribe to someone on GitHub, you can search by topic or niche, go to their profile page and click Subscribe.
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8. Join the conversation
One of the many benefits of open source platforms is the ability to collaborate, learn, share and communicate with others.
Using Github and exploring its potential comes at no cost. The goal of open source is to help improve solutions by leveraging the mass input.
Learn or improve your skills or help others learn from your experience and knowledge.
By meeting the community on GitHub, you can follow the development of projects of interest to you, create duplicates of these projects, and experiment in your own private repository.
To find a community you want to join, use the Explore feature to find collections that are relevant to your area of ??interest.
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9. Show your best work
If you are an avid social media user, you understand the power of pinned posts. For example, if you pin a new post to your Twitter profile, it stays at the top of your feed and is visible to anyone who views that profile.
Facebook pages have the same function. By attaching posts to your social media profiles, you ensure that visitors see your favorite post first, rather than searching all over your feed.
GitHub also allows you to pin your favorite or most relevant repositories to your profile page. Free users can pin up to six repositories, which will remain at the top of their profile.
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10. Know who is to blame
Yes, GitHub has a button called blame. It may not be a good word, but it’s a useful feature. If you want to know who made a particular change to a file, try to find the culprit.
In the file blame viewer, you can view the entire change history line by line. Or you can examine the changes made or the version history of any line.
If something is broken or does not work correctly, this feature can help determine which team members should work together on a solution.
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If you’re looking for a centralized cloud platform for collaborating, sharing, storing, testing, and publishing projects, GitHub is a powerful solution.
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