GitHub

What Is GitHub?

GitHub allows both registered and non-registered users to view, download, and contribute to uploaded files and source code repositories. Github is currently the largest source code hosting platform in the world, used by many developers for collaborative work and sharing of software, files, and documentation.

How Does GitHub Work?

Once a GitHub account is registered, the user is able to create their own directory of files and content, which is called a repository. After repository creation comes “master branch” creation. 

GitHub master branches represent the single starting point of any project. The user can decide whether to make a project available to anyone (public repository) or to restrict access and share it only with certain users (private repository). From a master branch, sub-branches can be created, which allow the user to work on various aspects of the project separately.

Pull requests 

On a public repository, other users are able to suggest changes to the code, eventually uploading new versions of the files. Suggestions are made through pull requests. These allow users to tell others about the changes they have made to a certain branch or repository. 

When a pull request is created, the user is taken to an overview screen where they can easily review all the changes made to the code, comparing the old and the new version. All changes are documented and recorded, and users may also add comments, labels, and milestones, or even assign specific tasks to other contributors.

Who Uses GitHub?

Because of the flexibility that its features offer, GitHub has users from both public and private sectors.

Software companies, app developers, individual programmers, and cryptocurrency developers are some examples. 

Is GitHub Free?

GitHub is free for all open source and commercial development projects. 

However, the free plan restricts some private repository features, and larger teams or projects may need to upgrade to a paid plan to access advanced tools and controls.