Simple Git and GitHub Guide

The easiest way to create your own repository is to start by making a GitHub repository and then cloning it into a local repository. That way, you dont run into issues with different branch names like Main and Master.

1. Create a repository on GitHub
   • Decide on a suitable name
   • Decide if you want your repository to be public or private
   • Decide what license you want to use
2. From your repository, click the green code button and copy the HTTPS link
3. On your local computer open CMD and navigate to where you want your folder to be
   • Run git clone <link to your repository on github>
   • A folder for your repository will be created
   • Navigate into the folder
4. Now you have a local git repository that is tied to your GitHub repository.
   • Here you can:
     • Add your files
     • Create branches
     • Merge branches
     • Commit
     • Push changes to GitHub
     • Pull changes from GitHub

Usefull commands:

Local repository related commands

• Initialise an empty local repository
  • git init
• See status of the git repository
  • git status
• Add files for staging
  • git add <filename> ||| add single file
  • git add -A ||| add all files
• Commit changes
  • git commit -m "<describe change>"
• See branches
  • git branch ||| for local branches
  • git branch -r ||| for remote branches
  • git branch -a ||| for all branches
• Change branch
  • git checkout <branch you want to change to>
• See commit log
  • git log
• Merge two branches
  • git merge

Remote repository related commands

• Add a remote repository to a local repository
  • git add remote origin <remote repository link>
• Clone a remote repository into a local repository
  • git clone <remote repository link>
• Pull changes from remote repository (combination of fetch and merge)
  • git pull
• Push changes to remote repository
  • git push

GitHub specific actions

• Forking a repository means that you make a copy of someone else's repository and save the copy as a repository that you own
• If you make changes to your fork of a repository, in order to submit those changes to the original repository. You have to create a pull request.