# Laboratory Exercise 1: Introduction to Git and GitHub --- ## Objective By the end of this laboratory session, students will be able to: - Clone a shared GitHub repository. - Create and switch to a branch from `main` before making changes. - Add and modify files. - Stage, commit, and push changes to GitHub. - Merge changes back into `main`. ## Prerequisites - Git must be installed on the workstation (`git --version` to verify). - Students must have an active GitHub account. - A text editor or IDE (Visual Studio Code recommended). --- ## Laboratory Procedure ### Step 1: Configure Git Identity and Credential Manager Each student must configure their Git identity **for this repository only** (not global): ```bash git config user.name "Your Name" git config user.email "your.email@example.com" ``` Verify your configuration: ```bash git config --list --local ``` #### (Optional but Recommended) Configure Git Credential Manager If you want Git to remember your credentials securely, enable the credential manager: ```bash git config credential.helper manager ``` - On macOS, you may use the macOS Keychain: ```bash git config credential.helper osxkeychain ``` - On Windows, you may use: ```bash git config credential.helper manager-core ``` This ensures Git will prompt you for credentials only once per repository and store them securely. --- ### Step 2: Clone the Repository Each student will clone the class repository: ```bash cd path/to/your/workspace git clone https://github.com/2026-DCIT26/LabActivity1.git cd LabActivity1 ``` --- ### Step 3: **Create and Switch to Your Personal Branch** Each student must create a branch named using this format: ``` feature/ ``` **Example:** ```bash git checkout -b feature/201811394 ``` > This ensures that every student works on their own branch without affecting `main`. --- ### Step 4: Adding and Modifying Files #### Add a New File Create a file named `notes.txt`: ```bash echo "This is my notes file." > notes.txt ``` Stage and commit: ```bash git add notes.txt git commit -m "Add notes.txt file with initial content" ``` Push the branch to GitHub: ```bash git push origin feature/201811394 ``` #### Modify an Existing File Edit `README.md` using an editor or terminal: ```bash echo "\n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update." >> README.md ``` Stage, commit, and push: ```bash git add README.md git commit -m "Update README with additional notes" git push origin feature/201811394 ``` Students should verify changes on GitHub in their own branch. --- ### Step 5: Merging Back to Main (Optional / Instructor-led) After everyone has pushed their branch, the instructor may demonstrate merging one branch into `main`. ```bash git checkout main git merge feature/201811394 git push origin main ``` --- ### Step 6: Verification Students must: - Refresh the repository page on GitHub. - Confirm that their branch (e.g., `feature/201811394`) exists. - Check that their commits and files appear under their branch. --- ## Summary of Commands | Action | Command | | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Configure identity | `git config user.name` / `git config user.email` | | Credential manager | `git config credential.helper manager` (or `osxkeychain`/`manager-core`) | | Clone repository | `git clone https://github.com/2026-DCIT26/LabActivity1.git` | | Create branch | `git checkout -b feature/201811394` | | Switch branch | `git checkout ` | | Stage file(s) | `git add ` | | Commit changes | `git commit -m "message"` | | Push to branch | `git push origin feature/201811394` | | Merge branch | `git merge feature/201811394` | | Check status | `git status` | | View changes | `git diff` | --- ### Deliverables Each student must: - Submit a screenshot of their terminal showing `git log` from their personal branch. - Provide a link to their branch in the repository. - Ensure that `notes.txt` and README updates are visible in their branch on GitHub. \n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update. \n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update. \n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update. \n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update. \n## Additional Notes\nThis is an update.