Using GitHub Effectively When You’re Just Starting
Starting out on the GitHub platform, as a beginner programmer, might seem daunting with repositories, pull requests, commits and branches. If you don’t have a clear map, it can easily get confusing. However, learning to use GitHub proficiently from the offset would have a positive impact down the line. GitHub is not just a code repository. It is an amazing collaboration tool and an effective platform for multi-faceted portfolios that capture your professional evolution and impact. As is the case with most new tools, start with the basics. Create a GitHub account and a repository to explore. Search for repositories to fork. Try your hands on a few beginner friendly ones to learn the basics. When you’re up to speed, you can create your own GitHub repositories for keeping your practice code, mini projects, and even assignments from school. This aids with organization and contributes to building your digital portfolio. In GitHub, every change made to a repository is tracked and recorded. Make sure you added clear commit messages that tell a story of what you did to aid with future tracking.
Even though branching and pull requests may seem sophisticated, they are essential in multi-developer projects. A branch allows for modifications without disrupting the primary code. After experimenting, a pull request allows for integration back to main branch for a review. Go through this process even when working alone for practice.
Another golden tip is to create the proper README files. A README should describe the project, provide a guide for execution, and outline the technologies used. A README is beneficial and helps communicate thoughts clearly which is a key quality for a developer. Avoid public repositories and the associated issues and discussions at your own peril. Many open source projects welcome new contributors and label issues as “good first issue.” Last but not least, keep acquiring new skills. GitHub has learning labs and YouTube, freeCodeCamp and Codecademy offer Git and GitHub tutorials. In no time, with practice and curiosity, GitHub shifts from being intimidating to empowering. New skills should not be acquired all at once but should be accompanied with good long-term habits.