Skip to main content

Git and GitHub Setup Journey

1. Creating a GitHub Account​

Why GitHub?​

GitHub is more than just a platform - it's a collaborative ecosystem for developers worldwide. It allows you to store, manage, and share code, track changes, and work with teams seamlessly.

Account Creation Steps​

  1. Navigate to https://github.com/signup
  2. Choose your account type (typically "Personal")
  3. Select options that reflect your development goals
    • Are you a student? Professional? Open-source contributor?
  4. Complete the registration process
    • Use a professional email you'll remember
    • Create a strong, unique password
Account Creation Advice
  • Use an email you'll consistently access
  • Choose a username that represents your professional identity
  • Consider using the same username across professional platforms

2. Organization Invitation Preparation​

Communicating with Sean​

  1. Have your GitHub username ready
  2. Prepare a professional email message: 
    Good Morning Sean,

    I've created my GitHub account with the username [YOUR_USERNAME] 
    and would like to be added to the TravellingLanguages organization. 
    My professional email is [YOUR_EMAIL].

    Could you please send me an invitation?

    Best regards,
    [Your Name]
  3. send it to sf@tl.ie

Verifying Organization Access​

  1. Visit https://github.com/settings/organizations
  2. Look for "TravellingLanguages" in your organization list
  3. Alternative verification: https://github.com/TravellingLanguages
Organization Invitation
  • Wait for Sean to send the invitation
  • Accept the invitation through the email link
  • Confirm your membership in the organization

3. Git Installation​

Understanding Git​

Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in source code during software development. It allows multiple developers to work together efficiently.

Installation by Operating System​

Windows: Multiple Installation Methods​

Method 1: Browser Download​
  1. Visit https://git-scm.com/download/win
  2. Download the installer
  3. Run the installer
  4. Choose "Use Git Bash" during installation
  5. Select "Recommended" settings for most options
Method 2: Command-Line Download using wget​

If you prefer downloading directly via command line, follow these steps:

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator

    • Press Windows Key
    • Type "PowerShell"
    • Right-click and select "Run as Administrator"

  2. Download Git Installer

    # Download 64-bit version
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://github.com/git-for-windows/git/releases/download/v2.43.0.windows.1/Git-2.43.0-64-bit.exe" -OutFile "GitInstaller.exe"

  3. Verify Download Integrity

    # Optional: Check file size to confirm download
    (Get-Item "GitInstaller.exe").length

  4. Install Git

    # Silent install (recommended for automated setups)
    Start-Process -FilePath ".\GitInstaller.exe" -ArgumentList "/SILENT" -Wait

  5. Verify Installation

    # Check Git version
    git --version
Download Considerations
  • Always download from official sources
  • Verify the exact version number at the time of installation
  • 64-bit version recommended for most modern systems
Method 3: Chocolatey Package Manager (Alternative)​

For those using Chocolatey:

choco install git

macOS​

  1. Install via Homebrew: 
    /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
    brew install git

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)​

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

Verifying Installation​

git --version

4. GitHub CLI Authentication: A Deep Dive​

Prerequisites​

  • Git installed
  • GitHub account
  • GitHub CLI installed

Installation of GitHub CLI​

Windows​

  1. Download from https://cli.github.com/
  2. Run the installer
  3. Follow installation wizard

macOS​

brew install gh

Linux​

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install gh

# Fedora
sudo dnf install gh

Authentication Process: The Comprehensive Walkthrough​

Step 1: Initial Authentication​

gh auth login

Interactive Prompt Breakdown​

When you run gh auth login, you'll encounter an interactive wizard:

  1. Host Selection

    • Choose "GitHub.com"
    • This connects to the main GitHub platform

  2. You may be prompted this: Authenticate Git with your GitHub credentials? (Y/n)

    • Choose "Y" to authenticate Git with your GitHub credentials

  3. Authentication Method

    • Select "Web Browser" (recommended)
    • Provides the most secure and user-friendly experience

  4. Browser-Based Authentication

    • A browser window will open
    • You'll see a unique code
    • GitHub will ask you to enter this code
    • Confirm your login

  5. Scope Selection

    • Choose "Entire account access"
    • This allows full repository interactions

Verification​

# Verify successful authentication
gh auth status
Authentication Troubleshooting
  • Ensure pop-ups are enabled
  • Check internet connectivity
  • Refresh browser if code doesn't work

5. Git CLI: Essential Commands Tutorial​

Basic Workflow Commands​

Configuring Your Identity​

# Set your username
git config --global user.name "Your Name"

# Set your email
git config --global user.email "your.email.used.for.github@example.com"

Repository Operations​

# Create a new repository
git init

# Clone an existing repository
git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git

# Check repository status
git status

Tracking Changes​

# Add files to staging
git add filename.txt   # Single file
git add .              # All changes

# Commit changes
git commit -m "Descriptive commit message"

Branching​

# Create a new branch
git branch new-feature

# Switch to a branch
git checkout new-feature

# Create and switch in one command
git checkout -b another-feature

Synchronizing​

# Pull latest changes
git pull origin main

# Push your changes
git push origin your-branch-name

Best Practices and Recommendations​

  1. Always pull before you push
  2. Write clear, descriptive commit messages
  3. Use branches for new features
  4. Regularly update your local repositories
  5. Never commit sensitive information
Security Alert
  • Never commit passwords or sensitive data
  • Use .gitignore to prevent accidental commits
  • Be mindful of what you're pushing

Conclusion​

This is a basic guide to setting up Git and GitHub for your development journey. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting and learning. Happy coding!

if you wan a deeper dive into git and github, check out the following resources:​

Deep Dive