What Is GitHub and Why Should You Use It?

GitHub is useful for code, content, research, web pages, and more in the development stage. Many users like it because it easily tracks changes and navigates revisions. Explore GitHub in more depth, along with its benefits, where you might encounter it, and how to use it.

What is GitHub used for?

GitHub allows you to create, store, change, merge, and collaborate on files or code. Any team member can access and edit the GitHub repository (think of this as a folder for files) and see the most recent version in real time. GitHub has been called “a social coding platform” because it lets users make requests to one another and internally discuss the iterations along the way [1]. GitHub encourages people to coordinate, share, and collaborate code across distributed and asynchronous environments.  

What’s the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git is the version control system GitHub uses. Git is open-source and free to use for small and large projects. The system keeps track of every change you make in GitHub. GitHub, meanwhile, is where people can share and collaborate on the files they have created. GitHub lets you use Git without having to first learn the command codes.

Who uses GitHub?

Developers use GitHub to collaborate on a single project. Version control helps them reduce duplicating work. Plus, GitHub allows developers to try new things. If the changes aren’t positive, they can easily revert to the previous version.

You’ll also find others using GitHub, such as:

• Scientific researchers

• Website content creators

• Computer programmers

• Software engineers

• Learners 

Why is version control important?

Version control is essential as it makes collaboration more transparent and reproducible. By visibly tracking iterative changes, an entire team can experiment with new approaches, knowing you can revert to the original as needed. 

Version control, or source or revision control, supports code management throughout development. The team can code concurrently to address problem areas with the safety of knowing there will also be a single source tracking the experimentation. The developers can resolve conflicting code with easy visibility into the different iterations. Plus, no one can permanently damage a product in development because teams can always review the previous code versions and reverse them if necessary.

What makes GitHub so popular?

GitHub claims more than 4 million organisations, including 90 percent of Fortune 100 companies, and more than 100 million developers use it [2]. The following offers more details about the characteristics that contribute to its popularity.

Easy to use

With a free account, GitHub lets you access unlimited public repositories of code [3]. Even non-programmers can benefit from having unlimited collaborators with version control supported. It’s simple to start, and once your files are in GitHub, sharing the repository with others is easy. 

You can also take advantage of other people’s available open-source code to expedite your own project or come up with fresh approaches. Additionally, GitHub can support quality control by letting users automate some of the more mundane tasks, such as unit testing. 

Robust documentation and support

GitHub’s popularity means it’s easy to find support documentation to help you answer any questions. 

Encourages collaboration

GitHub encourages collaboration by allowing you to track changes with the benefit of version control. You’ll always have access to the code’s complete history. You can also work with unlimited collaborators on big and small projects and leave messages telling contributors what you did and why. 

Alternatives to GitHub

GitHub may be the most prominent code host, but it isn’t the only option available. You might also try:

• Bitbucket: This GitHub alternative allows for public and private repositories and is suitable for smaller teams.

• GitLab: This repository is like GitHub but focuses on DevOps and continuous integration. It only allows its team of web developers to collaborate on code.

• SourceForge: This web service welcomes GitHub migrants by letting you transfer your repositories to its open-source code hosting platform.

• Google Cloud Source Repositories: This option for private repositories limits the number of users on the free tier.

How to use GitHub as a portfolio 

Using GitHub for your e-portfolio demonstrates technological savvy and helps you stand out in this digital world. Follow these steps to use GitHub for your portfolio:

1. Sign up for a free GitHub account.

2. Create your content in a separate platform (e.g., Google Docs or Word) to ensure you have a master copy.

3. Create a new repository to add your work to a GitHub project board. By default, GitHub repositories are publicly visible, but you may want to set them to private if they’re a work in progress.

4. Share with others and ask for input.

5. Edit and revise in the collaborative interface.

6. Publish your work to a GitHub page that is open to the public.

7. Share your final portfolio with your network of potential employers. You could also put it on your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Getting started with Coursera 

GitHub is a web-based platform that allows teams to collaborate on code, content, and research in real time. It is popular for its ease of use, robust documentation and support, and encouragement of collaboration. GitHub claims Mercedes-Benz, Philips, and Buzzfeed among its customers. Knowing how to use it can help you expand your career opportunities as an aspiring developer. Learn Git, GitHub, and other in-demand skills in the Google IT Automation With Python Professional Certificate, or pursue Google’s Introduction to Git and GitHub on Coursera.