GitHub is the world’s largest platform for reversion control and collaborative coding. When you first open it, it might look simple, but there is so much happening behind the scenes. GitHub assists users in organizing projects, managing updates, and sharing code both publicly and privately. It is used by individual developers, startups, and major tech companies. And here’s something a lot of people don’t know at the beginning: many employers and recruiters actually check GitHub profiles when evaluating candidates. GitHub gives companies more insight than a résumé because it showcases your actual work, your larger projects, your real thought processes, and your progress over time. Learning how this platform works is essential creating a strong online presence as a developer.
Repositories
When you create an account on GitHub the first option you will likely come across is to create a repository. At this point, you are probably wondering: What even is a repository?
A repository (repo for short) is the digital container for your project. It includes your code documentation, images, configuration files, and more. Think of it as a structured project folder with a built-in history. This way, you can always go back and see what you changed and when.
GitHub gives you three options when creating a repository. You can make it public, which means it is visible to everyone. The upside of this is that employers, classmates, or anyone interested in your work can view your projects. The downside is that everyone can view your code, so you must be careful not to include anything sensitive. You can also make a repo private, which means only you and invited collaborators can view it. This is great for incomplete projects, homework assignments, or work that isn’t ready to be shared publicly. The downside is that no one can see it unless you give them permission. The third option is to fork a repository, which basically means making a copy of someone else’s repo so you can modify it independently. This is very common in open-source development.
What you will see in a repo
- README.md – The introduction/ explanation file
- File tree (folders, files) – Folders + files
- .gitignore – file that tells GitHub what not to track
- Commits history – every saved change
- Branch list – all versions of your project
I will go over these more in depth. Don’t worry!!
Commits
When you are inside a repository there is a commit button in the top right corner. CCommits are essentially “save points,” but they are smarter than just pressing save. Each commit creates a snapshot of your project at a specific moment in time. Commits contain the exact changes made, the timestamp, your username, and an optional message explaining what you changed. Writing clear commit messages becomes important later when you’re trying to remember why you removed a function or changed a layout.
One of the biggest benefits of commit history is that you can undo mistakes. If you break something or accidentally delete something important, you can scroll through your history and go back to an earlier version. Commit histories also make it easier to compare different versions, track progress as your project evolves, and work collaboratively without accidentally overwriting someone else’s changes.
Branches
Branches are another feature you will see inside a repo, and they always confuse beginners at first. A branch is basically a separate version of your project that you can work on without touching the main version. The main branch is usually called “main” (it used to be called “master”), and you never want to break that one. Branches let you test new ideas, add features, fix bugs, or redesign parts of your project safely.
There are different reasons you might create a branch. You might create a feature branch if you’re adding something new, a bug-fix branch if you’re trying to fix an error, or an experimental branch if you’re testing something you’re not sure will work. Once you’re happy with your branch and it is stable, you can merge it back into the main branch. That’s how updates become official.
Pull Requests
Pull requests (PRs) are the way people review code before it gets merged. When you open a pull request, you’re basically asking someone to look at your branch and approve the changes before they become part of the main project. Pull requests make collaboration possible because they open a space for questions, suggestions, and fixes.
Inside a pull request, you can describe what you changed, see a visual comparison of the old and new code, leave comments, respond to feedback, and decide when it’s ready to merge. Even if you are working alone, using pull requests teaches you good habits.
Issues
Issues are GitHub’s version of a to-do list. If you find a bug, need to add a feature, want to ask a question, or notice something in the documentation that needs updating, you create an issue. Issues help keep track of everything you need to do. They are also great for planning because you can assign them, label them, and organize them by priority.
README Files
The README file is the front door of your repository. When someone opens your repo, this is the first thing they see. README.md is a Markdown file that explains what your project is, what it does, how to use it, and any important information someone needs to know.
A strong README usually includes an overview, a list of features, setup instructions, screenshots, installation steps, dependencies, and directions on how to contribute. If someone can understand your project just by reading the README, you’ve written a good one.
GitHub Web vs GitHub Desktop vs Terminal
You can interact with GitHub in a few different ways. GitHub Web is the version you access in your browser. You can create repositories, view commits, open pull requests, and edit small files online. GitHub Desktop is a downloadable application that gives you more visual control and makes committing changes easier with a drag-and-drop interface. The Terminal (or command line) gives you full control using Git commands. This is the most powerful method and the one most professional developers use for large workflows.
Cloning & Forking
Cloning makes a full local copy of the repo on your computer, including all its history. This lets you code in your preferred editor and commit changes from your machine. Forking makes your own version of someone else’s repo stored on your GitHub account. You can then customize it, change it, and even submit improvements back to the original project.
Collaboration Features
GitHub also includes tools for collaboration like inviting contributors, assigning issues, protecting branches, hosting team discussions, and reviewing code. These tools help teams stay organized and avoid conflicts.
GitHub Pages
If you ever want to host a simple website, GitHub Pages is a free way to do it. It lets you turn your repo into a live website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s perfect for personal portfolios, documentation sites, and static pages.
GitHub Actions
This is a more advanced feature, but worth mentioning. GitHub Actions lets you automate tasks, like testing your code every time you push changes, deploying builds, or running scripts on a schedule.
Community Tools
GitHub also includes Discussions, Wikis, Labels, Milestones, and Templates to help you organize and manage large projects with many contributors.
To Conclude…
GitHub is a platform built for collaboration, organization, and long-term growth. The more you understand each of its features, the easier coding becomes. If used correctly, Github can become your portfolio, your history, and your workspace as a developer.
Technically Curious 
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