GitHub Getting Started Guide

What is GitHub?

GitHub is the world’s largest code hosting platform, serving not only as a version control system but also as an open-source community and collaborative development platform. Through GitHub, developers can:

Store and manage code
Track code changes
Collaborate with teams
Participate in open-source projects
Manage project progress

Core Features

1. Repository

Repositories are GitHub’s basic units, used to store all project files and history:

Create public or private repositories
Support multiple programming languages
Include README, license, and project documentation
Provide detailed change history

2. Branch

Branches allow development without affecting the main code:

main/master branch: stores stable version code
feature branches: develop new features
hotfix branches: fix urgent issues
release branches: prepare for version releases

3. Pull Request

Pull Request (PR) is the core mechanism for collaborative development:

Submit code change requests
Conduct code reviews
Discuss and improve code
Merge into target branches

4. Issues

Issues are used to track tasks, enhancements, and bug reports:

Describe problems or requirements
Assign to team members
Set labels and milestones
Link related PRs

Best Practices

1. Commit Message Standards

# Good commit message examples
feat: add user login functionality
fix: resolve slow homepage loading
docs: update API documentation
style: optimize code formatting

2. Branch Management Strategy

Use meaningful branch names
Merge or delete outdated branches promptly
Protect important branches (like main)
Regularly sync remote code

3. Project Documentation Maintenance

Write clear READMEs
Update documentation regularly
Add contribution guidelines
Use Wiki for detailed documentation

Common Features

1. GitHub Actions

Automated workflows:

Automated build and testing
Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
Automated version releases
Code quality checks

2. GitHub Pages

Host static websites:

Project documentation
Personal blogs
Portfolio showcases
Technical documentation

3. GitHub Packages

Package management service:

Publish packages
Version management
Access control
Actions integration

Advanced Techniques

1. Efficient Searching

# Search in specific repository
repo:username/repo keyword

# Search by language
language:javascript keyword

# Search by filename
filename:config.js

2. Keyboard Shortcuts

t: Quick file finder
w: Switch branches
s: Quick search
g p: Jump to Pull Requests

3. Project Management

Use Projects boards
Set milestones
Utilize label system
Link Issues and PRs

Recommended Resources

Tips for Users

Regularly backup important code
Use .gitignore to exclude unnecessary files
Enable two-factor authentication for security
Stay active in the open-source community