GitHub for Next-Generation Coders - Igor Irić - E-Book

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Igor Irić

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Beschreibung

Navigating the world of collaborative software development can be daunting, especially for young coders just starting their programming journey. This book is designed to take you on a coding adventure, transforming you from a curious beginner into a confident GitHub user.
The book builds a solid foundation and explains the Git version control system in depth, helping you understand how to track changes, collaborate effectively, and manage your projects with ease. You'll master repositories, the building blocks of your coding projects, and learn branching strategies to experiment and work seamlessly with others. The chapters will teach you about GitHub Actions, guiding you through workflow syntax, exploring environments and secrets management, and providing hands-on exercises to solidify your understanding. You’ll also discover how to craft a compelling GitHub profile that highlights your achievements and discover the exciting world of open-source projects where you can contribute and give back to the community. To get you started with AI, you’ll also learn how to leverage Copilot and ChatGPT together to write faster, cleaner code.
By the end of this book, you’ll be well prepared to contribute to real-world projects on GitHub, equipped with the skills to thrive in the world of collaborative software development.

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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

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GitHub for Next-Generation Coders

Build your ideas, share your code, and join a community of creators

Igor Irić

GitHub for Next-Generation Coders

Copyright © 2024 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

The author acknowledges the use of cutting-edge AI, such as ChatGPT, with the sole aim of enhancing the language and clarity within the book, thereby ensuring a smooth reading experience for readers. It's important to note that the content itself has been crafted by the author and edited by a professional publishing team.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

Group Product Manager: Preet Ahuja

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First published: July 2024

Production reference: 1050724

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

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ISBN 978-1-83546-304-8

www.packtpub.com

For my beloved son, Vuk, who inspires every page of this book and every day of my life.

– Igor Irić

Contributors

About the author

Igor Irić is a senior Azure solutions architect expert and GitHub trainer. With over 15 years of experience, he’s aided major companies in building cutting-edge solutions. As a mentor, Igor leads developer teams and enhances their skills through transformative training. His engagements with global enterprises have refined his expertise in technology strategies. As a reliable guide for clients facing technical hurdles, Igor provides invaluable advice and training. Passionate about sharing knowledge, he actively discusses cloud best practices, microservices, the cloud, artificial intelligence, DevOps, and software innovation.

Many thanks to my wife, Sanja, whose love and patience have supported me at every step of my career. I also want to thank my parents for inspiring my passion for IT by providing me with my first computer.

About the reviewers

Pavle Davitkovic is a software engineer with over five years of experience. His focus is on the .NET stack, where he has developed applications ranging from web to mobile. He holds a bachelor’s degree in modern computer technologies from the College of Applied Technical Sciences in Niš, Serbia. In his spare time, he is a tech content creator.

Florian Holzapfel has been working as a software developer for more than 20 years. Currently, he is working as a senior software developer at glueckkanja AG where he has been contributing to various projects on the product development team using technologies such as C++, Go, Typescript, and React. Over the years, he has had the opportunity to create, maintain, and improve software solutions that impact users worldwide. He is passionate about solving complex problems and staying up to date with the latest technologies.

Sorin Pasa is a seasoned cloud architect and Microsoft Certified Trainer with nearly 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Well known for his expertise in designing and implementing scalable cloud solutions, Sorin has consistently driven innovation and efficiency across various organizations and industries, in multiple countries. His deep knowledge of Microsoft technologies, combined with a passion for teaching, has empowered countless professionals to enhance their skills. Sorin’s commitment to excellence and his ability to navigate complex technical landscapes make him a pivotal figure in the cloud computing community.

Soundarya Srikanta is a passionate software engineer with a wealth of experience in the tech industry. An active GitHub contributor, she believes it’s the ultimate tool for developers. With a master’s degree in computer science from Northeastern University, she’s conquered industry giants such as AWS and TCS. Relentlessly innovative, she scoffs at repetitive tasks, automating them effortlessly. Beyond coding, Soundarya’s fitness regime and love for animals are the envy of all. She’s always eager to learn new things and enjoys being part of a team, bringing fresh ideas and energy to every project.

I thank my family for their unwavering support and belief in my abilities, my dear friends for their cheers and support to lift my spirits higher than the stars, and my well-wishers for their wisdom, guidance, and warm wishes that have sculpted me into the unstoppable force I am today.

With heartfelt gratitude, thank you all for standing by me through thick and thin. Your presence makes every step of this journey meaningful and unforgettable.

-Soundarya Srikanta

Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1: Getting Started with GitHub

1

Introduction to Version Control and GitHub

Exploring the benefits of GitHub to young coders

Understanding version control in GitHub – keeping track of your changes

Here’s where “Git” version control and GitHub shine together!

Understanding the types of VCS

How does this work for coding?

What are deltas in version control?

How do deltas work in coding?

Understanding distributed version control systems

What are snapshots in version control?

Getting started with Git and GitHub

Setting up your GitHub account and account types

What is a user account?

Organization accounts – team headquarters

Navigating the GitHub interface – a guide for beginners

So, what is the Code section about?

And Issues, what’s that?

Pull requests – sounds important?

Discussions, are they like meetings?

Actions, do they do my work?

Projects – that sounds serious?

Wiki, is that like Wikipedia?

What’s in the Security section?

Insights, do they tell the future?

Settings – what can I set there?

Summary

Quiz

2

Mastering GitHub Essentials

Technical requirements

How Git interacts with GitHub – Git commands and GitHub workflows

Git clone – cloning your first GitHub repository (the welcome kit)

Git add – adding files to your repository, the local way and the GitHub way

Creating files directly on GitHub

Git commit – saving your snapshot

Git push – the delivery of the changes to GitHub

Git fetch – the update checker

Git pull – bringing it all together

Network interaction

What are repositories on GitHub?

The GitHub neighborhood

Creating and managing a repository on GitHub

Getting your tools ready – downloading and installing Git

Creating and managing personal access tokens

How to create a PAT

Keeping your token safe

Using your token with Git

Why a good README file is like a welcoming front door on GitHub

Editing a README file right on GitHub (hands-on)

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Launching your space adventure!

Steps to success

Bonus challenge

Part 2: Collaborative Development Using GitHub

3

GitHub Features for Collaborating on Projects

Technical requirements

Setting up your team – inviting collaborators on GitHub

Finding the invitation spot

Awaiting their RSVP (répondez s’il vous plaît – please respond)

Checking the guest list

Understanding GitHub issues – what’s troubling our project?

Creating an issue

Discussing the issue

Assigning the issue

Linking to a pull request

Introduction to pull requests

What are pull requests?

Using pull requests in your website project

Review and feedback

Merging the pull request

Why are pull requests important?

What’s buzzing? Managing GitHub notifications

Spotting notifications

Tuning channels

Marking notifications

Reducing notification flood with filters

Customizing alerts

Emailing updates

Exploring GitHub Discussions

The cool factor in project collaboration

It’s like a chat room for your project

What types of discussions could we have?

How do I start a discussion?

Building a stronger team

Setting up projects on GitHub

Why do projects matter in GitHub?

Setting up a project for your one-page portfolio website

Why use a Kanban board?

How can I change my project settings?

Understanding wikis on GitHub

How can wikis help?

Creating a wiki for your one-page website on GitHub

What are GitHub repository insights?

How to use Insights

Why are insights helpful?

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Teaming up for a stellar mission!

Your mission

Steps to success

4

Branching in GitHub and Git

Technical requirements

Branching with GitHub Flow and creating a branch on GitHub

Setting up your own space – creating a new feature branch

Making changes and committing

Show and tell – creating a pull request

Teamwork – discussing and reviewing the PR

Approving the PR

Making it official – merging the PR

Cleanup time

Understanding GitHub Flow in practice – two developers, two features, one project

Creating a local copy of the repository (cloning)

Cloning the project

Switching to the correct branch

Adding and committing files to a local repository

Adding your new files to Git

Understanding “Check Untracked Files” in Git

Adding your new file changes to the Git staging area

Understanding Git’s working area, staging area, and history and pushing your changes to GitHub

Working area (or working directory) – what is it?

Staging area (or index) – what is it?

History (or repository)

Pushing your changes to GitHub

Why are these areas important?

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Navigating the stars in Space Explorer!

Your mission?

Steps to success

5

Collaborating on Code through Pull Requests

Technical requirements

Getting familiar with PRs and their importance

Creating a new PR

GitHub PR interface – proposing your draft

Why is a good PR important?

Reviewing a PR

What’s the Files changed tab?

Ensuring quality

Learning and growing

Merging the changes

Deleting a GitHub branch

Enhancing your website with GitHub’s easy editing features

Direct editing on GitHub – quick and easy

Using github.dev – your full-fledged editor

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Cosmic collaboration in Space Explorer!

Your mission?

Bonus exploration

6

Resolving Merge Conflicts – on GitHub and Locally

Technical requirements

Understanding merge conflicts and how they occur

What is a merge conflict?

How does a merge conflict happen?

Addressing merge conflicts

Merge conflict in action

Resolving merge conflicts using GitHub’s UI

Having multiple merge conflicts

Resolving merge conflicts using the command line like a pro

Solving conflicts with removed files

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Stellar enhancements in Space Explorer!

Your mission

Steps to success

Bonus challenge

Part 3: Mastering Git Commands and Tools

7

Git History and Reverting Commits

Understanding Git and GitHub history – tracking changes to your website

Viewing the history locally in a Git repository

Branches – parallel universes of Git history

The Activity page – a chronicle of your repository’s journey

Explaining git bisect – finding the needle in the haystack

A git bisect mystery – the case of the missing CSS styling

The short way of using git bisect – let Git do the detective work

Reverting commits to a previous version

Unraveling mysteries with git diff – the tale of the unseen changes

What is the diff command?

Other diff commands

Undoing changes with git reset and cherry-picking

Types of git reset

Picking specific changes with cherry-picking

Summary

Quiz

Enhanced challenge – Space Explorer splash screen, score tracking, and mastering Git commands

8

Helpful Tools and Git Commands

Crafting shortcuts and keeping it clean – advanced Git commands

Streamlining your website work with Sourcetree

Why should you use Sourcetree?

Getting started with Sourcetree

Connecting your repository

Viewing your project timeline

Create, merge, and switch branches

Staging and committing changes

Pull, Fetch, and Push

Navigating your website project with GitHub Desktop

Setting up GitHub Desktop

What can you do with GitHub Desktop?

Crafting your website with GitHub Codespaces

Why would you use Codespaces?

How to get started with Codespaces

Deleting Codespaces

Managing your project’s buzz with DevHub

How do you set up DevHub?

Why should you use DevHub in your daily workflow?

Summary

Quiz

Challenge – Crafting a Game Over screen for Space Explorer

Part 4: Advanced GitHub Functionalities

9

Leveraging GitHub Actions for Automation

Technical requirements

Understanding a GitHub Actions workflow

Creating action workflows

Exploring prebuilt actions

Understanding the uses keyword

Seeing it in action

What are reusable workflows in GitHub Actions?

Automated testing and deployment with GitHub Actions

What’s automated testing?

Deployment

How do we set this up with GitHub Actions?

Managing secrets and environment variables

What are secrets and environment variables?

Using secrets and environment variables for MY ARTICLES

Troubleshooting and optimizing GitHub Actions

Troubleshooting GitHub Actions

Common issues to look for

Optimizing GitHub Actions

Summary

Quiz

10

Enhancing GitHub Security Measures

Technical requirements

Setting up collaboration in your website repo

Setting up 2FA for your portfolio website

What is 2FA?

How to set up 2FA

Keeping your website safe – vulnerability scanning with Dependabot

What is vulnerability scanning?

And what’s Dependabot?

Protecting your one-page website with CODEOWNERS

What is CODEOWNERS?

How does CODEOWNERS help?

Applying secure coding practices

Why secure development matters

Planning a secure development strategy

Building and deploying securely

Summary

Quiz

11

Engaging with the Open Source Community

Technical requirements

Exploring open source projects

Sounds very interesting, but where to start?

Understanding project pages

Getting started

Making meaningful contributions with real examples

Navigating licensing and legal considerations

Choosing a license

Need more help?

Creating a license for your GitHub repository

Open source etiquettes and best practices

Summary

Quiz

Part 5: Personalizing Your GitHub Experience

12

Crafting Your GitHub Profile

Technical requirements

Optimizing your GitHub profile overview

Showcasing skills and expertise

Creating your README profile

What to include in the README file?

Adding stats and achievements to your profile

What are these widgets?

Why should you add stats and achievements?

Showcasing your GitHub trophies

Displaying projects and contributions strategically

Adding contributions and highlights

Using GitHub Pages to show off your work

Summary

Quiz

13

GitHub Copilot Aiding Code Creation

Technical requirements

Understanding GitHub Copilot, your coding assistant

How does it work?

A quick introduction to AI and LLMs

Why is Copilot so cool?

What to keep in mind when coding with Copilot

How to get started

Installing the GitHub Copilot extension

Code completion and suggestions with Copilot

Using Copilot for clean code and best practices

Unit testing generation

Test-driven development practice

Code refactoring

Prompt engineering with GitHub Copilot

How does prompt engineering work?

Cool examples of prompt engineering with GitHub Copilot

Tips for great prompt engineering

Is GitHub Copilot free for coders in school?

How to apply for free GitHub benefits

A word of wisdom for students

Summary

Quiz

Index

Other Books You May Enjoy

Preface

Welcome to GitHub for Next-Generation Coders! This book is designed to take young coders on an explorative ride into the world of GitHub, a platform that revolutionizes how people collaborate on software projects. Whether you’re starting your first coding project or looking to enhance your skills, this guide will provide you with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed in the collaborative environment of GitHub.

Throughout this book, we will cover everything from the basics of setting up a GitHub account to advanced features that can help you manage complex projects and contribute to the open source community. By the end of the book, you will not only be comfortable using GitHub; you will also understand how to use its many features to improve your coding projects and collaborate effectively with others around the world.

Who this book is for

GitHub for Next-Generation Coders is ideal for young individuals who are eager to learn about version control and collaboration. Whether you’re a middle school student just starting out with coding or a high school student looking to manage group projects more efficiently, this book is written to help you understand the concepts at your own pace and apply them practically.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Introduction to Version Control and GitHub, dives into the essentials of version control and explains why it’s crucial for managing changes and collaboration. You will set up your first GitHub account and explore the platform’s fundamental features.

Chapter 2, Mastering GitHub Essentials, deepens your understanding of GitHub by covering repositories, branches, commits, and merges. You will start managing your projects on GitHub with confidence and ease.

Chapter 3, GitHub Features for Collaborating on Projects, covers GitHub’s powerful tools for team collaboration, including issues, pull requests, and code reviews. You will learn how these features facilitate effective teamwork.

Chapter 4, Branching in GitHub and Git, discusses the concept of branches in GitHub as a means of working on different parts of a project simultaneously without affecting the stable version.

Chapter 5, Collaborating on Code through Pull Requests, provides practical guidance on how to work with others on GitHub using branches and pull requests, ensuring smooth collaboration and integration of changes.

Chapter 6, Resolving Merge Conflicts – on GitHub and Locally, explains how to handle merge conflicts that may arise when multiple people are editing the same parts of a project, ensuring a seamless merge process.

Chapter 7, Git History and Reverting Commits, covers the tools for tracking project history and undoing changes with commands such as git log and git revert, giving you control over your project’s historical changes.

Chapter 8, Helpful Tools and Git Commands, explores a range of Git commands and tools that enhance your productivity and project management capabilities on GitHub.

Chapter 9, Leveraging GitHub Actions for Automation, explains how to implement automation in your projects using GitHub Actions to streamline workflows for testing, deployment, and more.

Chapter 10, Enhancing GitHub Security Measures, covers securing your projects by managing access, using security features, and following best practices to protect your code.

Chapter 11, Engaging with the Open Source Community, explains how to contribute to open source projects, discusses the significance of open source, and covers how to make impactful contributions.

Chapter 12, Crafting Your GitHub Profile, will help you enhance your GitHub profile to showcase your projects, skills, and professional accomplishments effectively.

Chapter 13, GitHub Copilot Aiding Code Creation, explores how GitHub Copilot can help you write better code faster, using AI to assist in your coding tasks.

To get the most out of this book

Here is what to do to get the most out of this book:

Engage with the examples and exercises provided in each chapter

Participate in community discussions and open source projects to practice your skills

Reflect on how you can apply the lessons learned to your own coding projects

Software/hardware covered in the book

Operating system requirements

JavaScript

Windows, macOS, or Linux

HTML 5

Windows, macOS, or Linux

CSS

Windows, macOS, or Linux

YAML

Windows, macOS, or Linux

Markdown

Windows, macOS, or Linux

Json

Windows, macOS, or Linux

If you are using the digital version of this book, we advise you to type the code yourself or access the code from the book’s GitHub repository (a link is available in the next section). Doing so will help you avoid any potential errors related to the copying and pasting of code.

Download the example code files

You can download the example code files for this book from GitHub at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/GitHub-for-Next-Generation-Coders. If there’s an update to the code, it will be updated in the GitHub repository.

We also have other code bundles from our rich catalog of books and videos available at https://github.com/PacktPublishing/. Check them out!

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

Code in text: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: “You can use this command to create a new branch: git switch -c name-of-your-branch.”

A block of code is set as follows:

<!-- Profile Picture --> <p align="center">     <img src="https://github.com/[your-username]/biographyii/blob/ main/1674712595713-plava2.jpg" alt="Your Name" width="200"> </p>

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see onscreen. For instance, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in bold. Here is an example: “Click on the dropdown menu Branch: main and type the name of your new branch.”

Tips or important notes

Appear like this.

Get in touch

Feedback from our readers is always welcome.

General feedback: If you have questions about any aspect of this book, email us at [email protected] and mention the book title in the subject of your message.

Errata: Although we have taken every care to ensure the accuracy of our content, mistakes do happen. If you have found a mistake in this book, we would be grateful if you would report this to us. Please visit www.packtpub.com/support/errata and fill in the form.

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If you are interested in becoming an author: If there is a topic that you have expertise in and you are interested in either writing or contributing to a book, please visit authors.packtpub.com.

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Part 1: Getting Started with GitHub

In this section, we start from the very beginning, guiding you through the essentials of version control and the GitHub platform. You’ll learn how to set up your GitHub account and create your first repository, and you’ll discover the fundamentals of version control systems. By the end of this section, you’ll be familiar with navigating GitHub, managing files, and beginning to collaborate on projects.

This part contains the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Introduction to Version Control and GitHubChapter 2, Mastering GitHub Essentials

1

Introduction to Version Control and GitHub

This first chapter is like a launching pad for your exciting GitHub journey! We’re going to introduce you to GitHub and version control, which is a superpower for coders. We’ll guide you through step-by-step processes, providing practical tips and easy-to-follow examples.

First off, we’ll help you understand the core of GitHub and why version control is so awesome. Think of version control like a magic time-traveling book that lets you see and undo all your changes, keeping your code organized and safe.

Next, we’ll dive into the fun stuff! We’ll show you how to create your special space on GitHub, called a repository. Think of it as your treasure chest where you keep all your coding gems. You’ll learn how to add your code, make changes to it, and share it with others.

We’ll also explore how GitHub can be a fantastic tool for working together with friends or even with coders from around the world! It’s like having a coding party where everyone brings their own unique ideas and creations.

Here’s a sneak peek of what we’ll cover in this chapter:

Exploring the benefits of GitHub to young codersUnderstanding version control in GitHub – keeping track of your changesGetting started with Git and GitHubSetting up your GitHub account and account typesNavigating the GitHub interface – a guide for beginners

By the end of this chapter, you’ll feel at home in the GitHub universe, understand the magic of version control, and be ready to start your own coding adventures and share them with the world. Let’s code together and have a blast!

Exploring the benefits of GitHub to young coders

Have you been coding for a little while and are looking to improve your skills further? Whatever stage you’re at, GitHub is a platform you’ll want to get familiar with.

Let’s explore why:

Learning from the community: Have you ever found yourself stuck on a coding problem, not sure how to proceed? On GitHub, you can find countless projects and code snippets. Seeing how others tackle problems can provide a new perspective and help solve your own coding dilemmas.Collaboration: Ever worked on a group project and found it hard to keep track of who did what? GitHub makes teamwork smoother with its collaboration features. You can work with others easily, track changes, and combine everyone’s work seamlessly.Building a portfolio: Do you dream of landing a cool job in tech? GitHub can act as your portfolio, showcasing your projects to potential employers. It’s like your public coding diary, demonstrating your skills and the journey of your progress.Version control: Ever made a change to your code and realized you liked it better the way it was the day before? Git’s version control allows you to go back in time and compare changes so you never lose your work.Receiving feedback: Want to get better at coding? GitHub allows you to build up the community, which can provide valuable feedback on your projects. Repository and/or community members can point out bugs, suggest improvements, and help you become a better coder.Access to resources: Looking for a library or a tool to make your coding project easier? GitHub hosts a great number of resources, many of which are free to use.Integration with tools: Do you use other coding tools? GitHub integrates with many tools and platforms that can improve your workflow, making your coding process more efficient and enjoyable.

GitHub is not just a place to store your code. It’s a platform where you can learn, collaborate, showcase your work, and grow as a coder. So, why wait? Dive into GitHub and start exploring the endless possibilities it offers to young coders like you!

In the next section, we’re going to learn how GitHub helps you keep track of every change you make to your projects, just like keeping a detailed diary of your work. We’ll look at different ways to manage changes with version control systems, understand the concepts of deltas and snapshots, and explore how distributed version control systems keep teams in sync. It’s all about making sure you can always see what’s been done and by whom, making teamwork smoother and more organized.

Understanding version control in GitHub – keeping track of your changes

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how developers manage the ever-evolving versions of their software? Think of it like you’re writing a story. You write the first draft, then the second, and so on. Each draft is unique, with its own set of changes, yet all of them are interconnected. Now, what if you wanted to go back to a particular draft to revisit some ideas, or share your drafts with fellow writers for a collaborative masterpiece? This is where version control steps in as your time-traveling companion in the digital domain!

In coding, version control systems (VCSs) are like magical journals that keep a record of every change made to a project. They allow developers to travel back in time to any version of their project, compare different versions, and even merge changes made by different people. It’s like having a superpower that lets you not only undo mistakes but also collaborate without a problem.

GitHub is the place where developers come together to share and collaborate on projects. GitHub is built on top of Git, a popular VCS that we will explain later in the Getting started with Git and GitHub section, making it a robust platform for team-based projects. It’s like a massive online library, but instead of books, it houses code. Every project on GitHub lives in its own repository (or repo for short), a nicely ordered digital shelf where all versions of a project are stored and organized.

Curious about how this all comes together?

Let’s say you and your friends decide to build a portfolio website. Each one of you has unique ideas to make the website cooler. Alice suggests adding a top menu, Bob wants a gallery, and Charlie is keen on a blog. You all set out to work on your individual parts, but how do you bring it all together without stepping on each other’s toes?

Here’s where “Git” version control and GitHub shine together!

Each one of you creates a branch from the main branch (a branch is a separate workspace where you can make changes and try out new ideas without affecting the main version of your project) and works on your ideas, and once you’re satisfied, you propose the changes back to the main branch through a pull request. Your friends can review the changes, discuss them, and even suggest tweaks. Once everything looks good, the changes are merged into the main branch. Your collaborative portfolio website now has a gallery, a top menu, and a blog section, all built together without any problems.

And guess what? All the discussions, changes, and versions are nicely recorded, thanks to Git’s version control magic and GitHub’s collaborative platform. So, if someday you decide that the blog should include news, you know exactly where to go and how to make it happen without disrupting the rest of your website!

This journey of creative collaboration and organized evolution is what makes GitHub very popular among developers. It’s not just a platform; it’s a community where ideas grow, mix, and come to life, one version at a time.

Understanding the types of VCS

What are centralized version control systems?

Picture a train station at the heart of a large city full of activities. This station is no ordinary one; it’s the nerve center where all the city’s data trains come and go. Now, what if this city represented a software project, and the train station, a centralized version control system (CVCS)?

Interesting, isn’t it?

A CVCS is like this central station where all changes to a project are stored and managed. In this digital city, developers are the conductors of data trains, each carrying a unique set of changes or updates. They all meet at the central station, deposit their updates, and pick up changes made by others.

Sounds organized, right? But let’s dive a bit deeper.

You’re a developer-conductor. Each morning, you pull into the central station, pick up the latest version of the project, and move along through the day making your changes. Once satisfied, you steer your data train back to the central station to deposit your updates. This cycle continues, keeping the project evolving while maintaining a sense of order.

However, the CVCS has its bad sides. Picture a sunny day, our central station full of activity. Suddenly, a storm strikes and the station experiences a blackout, as seen in Figure 1.1. Panic sweeps through the city as the heart that held all the project’s data is now inaccessible. Developers are stranded with their updates, unable to share or access others’ changes.

Figure 1.1 – A CVCS as a central station

This scenario illustrates a significant characteristic (and a potential downside) of a CVCS—its single point of failure. Everything is stored on the central server. If it’s down or faces issues, the flow of updates halts, causing a ripple effect across the project.

Now, let’s draw our attention to another aspect. Remember how every conductor picks up the latest version of the project from the central station? This illustrates the centralized nature of a CVCS. Every piece of data, every update, and every version resides in one central place.

There’s a sense of simplicity and order with a CVCS. It’s like having a disciplined, centralized government managing the flow of data. It’s easier to administer, control access, and ensure everyone is on the same page. Yet, this centralized nature also brings along a few challenges, such as the potential for a single point of failure and the dependency on network access to the central server.

How does this work for coding?

In coding, a CVCS acts as a central repository where all code and its versions are stored. Developers check out (pull) the latest version of the code from this central server, work on their local machines to make changes, and then check in (push) their updates back to the central repository. This way, everyone has access to the latest version of the code, and all changes are tracked centrally.

In this setup, the CVCS keeps a record of all changes, who made them, and when. It’s an organized way to manage code in a team setting. However, it does have its drawbacks. For instance, if the central server goes down, developers can’t share or access the updates from the repository. Also, every operation is dependent on the central server, which can slow down processes if the network is slow or if the team is spread out across different locations. You can get an idea about a CVCS from Figure 1.2:

Figure 1.2 – The CVCS flow

The simplicity and centralized control make a CVCS easy to administer and ensure consistency in the code base, but at the cost of potential bottlenecks and a single point of failure.

What are deltas in version control?

Imagine you’re an artist, and every day, you add a new layer to your painting, enhancing it with fresh details, colors, and expressions. Each layer modifies just part of the painting, leaving other parts unchanged. As days go by, your artwork becomes a vibrant collection of these layers, each contributing to the overall story of the painting:

Figure 1.3 – Layers of a painting

In the world of version control, a delta works similarly. It’s a set of changes or updates applied to a file or a group of files. Rather than saving completely new copies of files after every single change, VCSs typically save these changes as deltas. This means they only record what has changed.

For example, let’s say you’re writing a digital book. Each day, you type up new ideas or edit what you wrote before. Your VCS keeps track of every edit, whether you add a paragraph or fix a spelling error. These changes are stored as deltas, allowing the system to document how your book evolves over time without needing to save the whole document anew with every change.

When you need to look at an earlier version of your document, your VCS uses these deltas to reconstruct it. It’s like being able to travel back in time to see your document as it was on any given day.

How do deltas work in coding?

In coding, deltas refer to the differences or changes between two versions of a file or files. These are vital to version control as they help track the evolution of the project without storing complete file copies at each stage.

When you or someone else makes changes to the code, the VCS figures out the delta—what’s been added or removed—and saves it. This acts like a detailed record of all edits, allowing for a more manageable and efficient way to handle changes.

These deltas, also called diffs, are essential to teamwork. They let everyone see exactly what has changed, who made the changes, and when they were made. By tracking changes this way, the VCS helps manage the project’s progress and ensures that nothing gets lost, even as many people collaborate and make continuous changes.

Figure 1.4 – Check-ins over time with deltas

This diagram shows a visual way to track changes to files over time in a project, such as updates to your one-page portfolio website. Each row represents a different file, labeled as File A, File B, and File C. The columns represent different versions of your project, from Version 1 to Version 5:

In Version 1, all three files are the original versionsBy Version 2, File A and File C have been changed (Δ1), while File B is still the originalIn Version 3, File A hasn’t changed from Version 2, File B has not been changed, and File C has been updated from its original (Δ1)Moving on to Version 4, File A has another change (Δ2), File B has been changed (Δ1), and File C is the same as in Version 3Finally, in Version 5, File A is the same as in Version 4, File B has another new change (Δ2), and File C has yet another update (Δ3)

The “Δ” symbol stands for a change or “delta.” So, Δ1 on File A means the first set of changes to the original version of File A, and Δ2 on File A represents a second set of changes.

This kind of tracking allows you to see the history of updates to each file, and by comparing these versions, you can understand how your website evolved over time. It’s a bit like looking at a photo album of your website, with snapshots of how each part changed from one version to the next.

Understanding distributed version control systems

A distributed version control system (DVCS) such as Git gives developers a complete project history on their local machines. This allows them to work independently on code, fixing bugs or adding features without worrying about disrupting the main project.

Now, picture a scenario where a developer named Ada is addressing a tricky bug. She clones the repository, creating her own version within the DVCS. With a full copy of the project on her computer, she works on the code, tests solutions, and resolves the bug. Throughout this process, she is isolated from other developers’ work and doesn’t affect their progress.

When Ada is confident in her solution, she shares it with the central repository. In the context of GitHub, she creates a pull request, which is a well-documented summary of her changes for her colleagues to review. They assess her contribution and discuss potential adjustments, and once everyone agrees, the changes are merged into the main project repository.

If Ada were working directly with other developers using Git without GitHub, she could share her changes through direct pushes to a shared repository. This would still allow for collaboration and code review, but without the structured workflow of pull requests.

With a DVCS, every developer’s input, whether it’s a bug fix, a feature, or an optimization, is a valuable contribution that is shared, reviewed, and improved through collaboration, driving the project toward new and exciting possibilities with the combined knowledge and skills of the team.

In the context of using Git with GitHub, you get the best of both worlds: the decentralized power of a DVCS with the collaborative tools that make managing contributions easier and more structured, like some features of a CVCS but with much more flexibility and independence.

Figure 1.5 shows a representation of a DVCS:

Figure 1.5 – A DVCS

In the DVCS, you are saving your changes like snapshots or like images of everything you have changed over time.

What are snapshots in version control?

Snapshots are like photographs capturing the state of your project at specific moments in time. Each snapshot holds a picture of what your code looked like at that moment.

So, how does this magic happen? Every time you reach a milestone, no matter how minor, you can take a snapshot of your code. In Git, this is called a commit. Each commit is a snapshot, a milestone on the development timeline of your project.

As time goes on, your code grows, but sometimes bugs appear. That’s where the power of snapshots comes into play. You can go back in time, revisiting each snapshot to figure out when and how the bug entered your code.

Snapshots allow you to compare your current code with past versions, helping you understand how your code has evolved. If necessary, you can even revert to a previous snapshot when everything was working smoothly.