8f38ce9531
Co-authored-by: Steve Ward <steveward@github.com> Co-authored-by: Laura Coursen <lecoursen@github.com>
85 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
85 lines
4.6 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: About GitHub and Git
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shortTitle: About GitHub and Git
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intro: 'You can use {% data variables.product.github %} and Git to collaborate on work.'
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versions:
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fpt: '*'
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ghes: '*'
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ghec: '*'
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type: overview
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topics:
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- Git
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- Fundamentals
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- GitHub
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- Collaboration
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- Community
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redirect_from:
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- /get-started/quickstart/about-github-and-git
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---
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## About {% data variables.product.github %}
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{% data variables.product.github %} is a {% ifversion not ghes %}cloud-based {% endif %}platform where you can store, share, and work together with others to write code.
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Storing your code in a "repository" on {% data variables.product.github %} allows you to:
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* **Showcase or share** your work.
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* **Track and manage** changes to your code over time.
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* Let others **review** your code, and make suggestions to improve it.
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* **Collaborate** on a shared project, without worrying that your changes will impact the work of your collaborators before you're ready to integrate them.
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Collaborative working, one of {% data variables.product.github %}’s fundamental features, is made possible by the open-source software, Git, upon which {% data variables.product.github %} is built.
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## About Git
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Git is a version control system that intelligently tracks changes in files. Git is particularly useful when you and a group of people are all making changes to the same files at the same time.
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Typically, to do this in a Git-based workflow, you would:
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* **Create a branch** off from the main copy of files that you (and your collaborators) are working on.
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* **Make edits** to the files independently and safely on your own personal branch.
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* Let Git intelligently **merge** your specific changes back into the main copy of files, so that your changes don't impact other people's updates.
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* Let Git **keep track** of your and other people's changes, so you all stay working on the most up-to-date version of the project.
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{% ifversion fpt %}
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To try using Git yourself, see [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/learning-to-code/getting-started-with-git).
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{% else %}
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If you want to learn more about Git, see [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/using-git/about-git).
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{% endif %}
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### How do Git and {% data variables.product.github %} work together?
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When you upload files to {% data variables.product.github %}, you'll store them in a "Git repository." This means that when you make changes (or "commits") to your files in {% data variables.product.github %}, Git will automatically start to track and manage your changes.
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There are plenty of Git-related actions that you can complete on {% data variables.product.github %} directly in your browser, such as creating a Git repository, creating branches, and uploading and editing files.
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However, most people work on their files locally (on their own computer), then continually sync these local changes—and all the related Git data—with the central "remote" repository on {% data variables.product.github %}. There are plenty of tools that you can use to do this, such as GitHub Desktop.
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Once you start to collaborate with others and all need to work on the same repository at the same time, you’ll continually:
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* **Pull** all the latest changes made by your collaborators from the remote repository on {% data variables.product.github %}.
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* **Push** back your own changes to the same remote repository on {% data variables.product.github %}.
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Git figures out how to intelligently merge this flow of changes, and {% data variables.product.github %} helps you manage the flow through features such as "pull requests."
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## Where do I start?
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If you're new to {% data variables.product.github %}, and unfamiliar with Git, we recommend working through the articles in the [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/start-your-journey) category. The articles focus on tasks you can complete directly in your browser on {% data variables.product.github %} and will help you to:
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* **Create an account** on {% data variables.product.github %}.
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* **Learn the "{% data variables.product.github %} Flow"**, and the key principles of collaborative working (branches, commits, pull requests, merges).
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* **Personalise your profile** to share your interests and skills.
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* **Explore {% data variables.product.github %}** to find inspiration for your own projects and connect with others.
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* Learn how to **download** interesting code for your own use.
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* Learn how to **upload** something you're working on to a {% data variables.product.github %} repository.
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{% ifversion fpt or ghec %}
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## Next steps
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* [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/start-your-journey/creating-an-account-on-github)
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{% endif %}
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## Further reading
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* [AUTOTITLE](/get-started/using-github/connecting-to-github)
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