Table of Contents
- Git & GitHub
What Is Git & GitHub?
Git & GitHub for beginners can sound intimidating at first, but once you understand the basics, they become the backbone of your development workflow Git & GitHub.
Git – Version Control System
Git & GitHub
Git is a free and open-source version control system created by Linus Torvalds. It helps developers track changes in code over time, collaborate effectively, and avoid messy code merges.
GitHub – Cloud Hosting for Git
GitHub is a web-based platform that hosts Git repositories online. It allows you to:
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Store your code in the cloud
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Collaborate on open-source projects
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Showcase work to employers
Why Git & GitHub Are Essential for Beginners
Here’s why every beginner should learn Git & GitHub early:
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Backups: Never lose code again.
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Collaboration: Work with others on the same codebase.
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Documentation: Track who made what change and when.
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Industry Standard: 90% of developer jobs require Git knowledge.
Learning Git & GitHub is like learning to save your game in a coding RPG.
Git & GitHub
Installing Git on Your Machine
🖥️ For Windows:
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Download: git-scm.com/download/win
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Use Git Bash or your IDE terminal.
For macOS:
For Linux:
To verify:
First-Time Git Setup
Set your user info globally:
Check config:
Basic Git & GitHub Workflow
Understanding the Git & GitHub for beginners workflow is key.
Local Git Flow:
Connecting to GitHub:
This process lets you develop locally and sync changes to GitHub.
Core Git Commands You Must Know
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
git init |
Create a Git repo |
git add . |
Stage all files |
git commit -m |
Commit changes |
git status |
Check file changes |
git log |
View commit history |
git push |
Upload to GitHub |
git pull |
Sync from GitHub |
git clone |
Copy a repo |
How to Use GitHub for Beginners
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Sign up on https://github.com/
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Create a repository
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Copy repo link
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Push your local project
From now on, you just use git push to update GitHub.
Branching in Git – A Beginner’s Perspective
Branches are one of Git’s superpowers.
Why Use Branches?
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Test new features without touching live code.
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Collaborate without conflicts.
Once done:
Use git branch -d new-feature to delete.
Collaborating on GitHub Repositories
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Fork a repo to your account
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Clone it locally
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Create a branch
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Push your changes
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Open a Pull Request (PR)
Teams use issues, discussions, and PRs to manage work.
Mistakes Beginners Make with Git & GitHub
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Committing secrets (API keys, passwords)
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Not using
.gitignore -
Forgetting commit messages
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Pushing broken code
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Not pulling latest changes before pushing
Best Practices for Beginners Using Git & GitHub
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Use meaningful commit messages:
git commit -m "Fix login bug" -
Use branches for new features
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Document code in
README.md -
Push regularly, not once a month
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Never commit large files
Additional Tools That Work with Git & GitHub
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| GitHub Desktop | GUI for GitHub |
| SourceTree | Visual Git client |
| VS Code Git Integration | Built-in Git support |
| GitKraken | Advanced Git GUI |
| Gitea | Self-hosted Git |
GitHub Pages: Hosting Static Sites for Free
What is GitHub Pages?
GitHub Pages lets you host static sites (HTML, CSS, JS) directly from your repo—for free.
Steps:
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Push your site code to a GitHub repo
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Go to Settings → Pages
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Select main branch → Save
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Your site is live at:
https://username.github.io/repo-name
Useful Git & GitHub Resources
Start Using Git & GitHub Today
Git & GitHub for beginners is not just a tutorial—it’s a must-have toolkit for every coder. Whether you’re working solo or collaborating with teams, version control will save your time, energy, and sanity.
Start simple:
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Create your first local repo.
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Connect it to GitHub.
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Track and share your projects.
Keep pushing. Keep learning. You’ll be Git-ing better every day!
