DEV Community: hasabTech

GitHub Commands For Daily Usage

Shameel Uddin — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 20:03:51 +0000

In previous articles, we have learned the following:

Now we are going to learn most important commands which are used on day-to-day tasks.

We will be discussing

git clone
git pull
git fetch
git push

Their differences and usages.

Git Clone

git clone is a simple command which downloads a local copy of the project from remote repository to your local computer.

Complete syntax is this:
git clone <link>

This is how you copy the link:

This is the result of cloning:

origin is already set for the remote location from where you clone the project.

Git Fetch

Since you are working with remote repository so there must be other folks working on it.

At first glance, git fetch looks like a command to download the changes locally to your computer but it only downloads the metadata and informs you of the changes.

Git Pull

git pull helps you download the changes made by others.

As we studied in last article, you can set pointers for remote locations, i.e., different repositories and choose to pull data from any of your desired repository.

Git Push

git push helps you upload changes back to the repository considering you have the rights to do so.

For remote pointers, you can choose to pull data from one repo and push into another repo.

For example, you are downloading data from origin and uploading to dev pointer.

This was it.
Try these commands out, let me know of any confusion.

Thank you :)

GitHub - Creating First Repo

Shameel Uddin — Sun, 29 May 2022 08:02:59 +0000

So, we have learned Basics of:

Time to move on and create our first repository on GitHub.

Creating First Repository on GitHub

Navigate to Repositories and click on New

Fill out basic info:

These two are compulsory:

Repository Name
Selection of Public and Private

Public Repository is seen by everyone where as Private Repository is only visible to you.

Once you are done, click on Create Repository:

Options in Creating Repository

Generally you are provided with three options.

Option 1 is used when you want to begin from scratch

Option 2 means that you are already working and just want to push the project on GitHub

Option 3 means to import a repository from somewhere else.

Create New Repository in CLI

You just need to enter the following commands as shown in option 1 in Git Bash.

Most of the commands have already been studied in our article where we got out basics of Git straight.

Lets rewind them a bit..

echo "# test-repo" >> README.md
This creates README.md file in the folder/directory you are present in and save "# test-repo" as its contents in the file.
git init
This initializes the git repository in folder/directory you are present int.
git add README.md
README.md file which was created as a result of first command is now added to Staging Area
git commit -m "first commit"

This commits the changes with the message first commit.

git branch -M main This creates a branch called as main. Note: We are always working in a branch; default branch is main.

So far, we have done stuff that we already knew. Time to move on to the remote commands.

git remote add origin https://github.com/shameeluddin/test-repo.git

This creates a pointer.
Key of pointer is origin
Value of pointer is https://github.com/shameeluddin/test-repo.git

One of the benefits the key origin provides, is that, you do not have to memorize the whole URL, you can just use the short name.

You can name anything other than origin but this is a conventional and/or standard way so just go with the flow because if you move away from conventions/standards, it'll be difficult for others to maintain/upgrade/fix your projects.

Similarly, you can add as many pointers as you want.
You can download project/changes from one (remote location) pointer and push it to another pointer (remote location)

You can find out about remotes with git remove -v command:

git push -u origin main This command pushes (uploads) changes to origin which are present in main branch.

Pushing Changes First Time

If you are pushing changes first time then you will be required to log in.

Do not worry about this step, because, you need to authenticate that you have the rights to push changes to the selected repository.

Result

This is what you see in your CLI after you have successfully authenticated yourself and pushed the changes.

Refresh the page on GitHub.

This is what you see on your GitHub repo page:

That's it folks!

Lets meet again and discuss most important remote git commands for daily usage.

GitHub Setup

Shameel Uddin — Mon, 23 May 2022 04:28:30 +0000

The series continues from the previous ones..
It's better if you go through previous two articles to understand Version Control System and Basics of Git.

Git vs. GitHub

So, we come to the question that we defined in our first article.

We have already learned Version Control System, its need, and one of its application in a form of Git.

Consider GitHub as a remote hosting platform of Git allowing easier collaboration with others around the world.

As the GitHub markets itself: Where the world builds software

GitHub works around the concept of Remote Repositories

Remote Repositories

Remote repository means, repository hosted on Internet or Local Network (i.e., your corporate network)
The main goal to work with remote repositories is to collaborate with others.
You can use these platforms to show your work and build your portfolio at beginner level.
This further leads to development of FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software)

Remote Platforms

Other than GitHub, platforms include BitBucket, GitLab and etc.

Signup Steps for GitHub

Signing up on GitHub is quite easy. Simply navigate to https://github.com/ and click on Signup button at top right.

Afterwards, fill in the information and follow the steps mentioned:

GitHub First Look

This is how GitHub first appears after you sign up.

Introduce Yourself

This is one of the steps where you must take some time to introduce yourself in a better way:

Once you click on "Continue" button, it should lead you to edit the Markdown file.

You can edit it as well as preview it.

Committing Changes

After you are done editing, you can commit your changes.

GitHub Introduction Result

You should be able to see a page like this with your changes successfully saved:

GitHub Repository Syntax

Following is a syntax of repository on GitHub

<username>/<repository>

Special Repository

When Repository Name is exactly same as your Username on GitHub, it creates a special repository.

README.md file that is stored in this repository is directly shown at your profile.
www.github.com/

For Example, my username on GitHub is Shameel123 which is accessible here:

https://github.com/shameel123
So,

Shameel123/Shameel123 is a special repository:
https://github.com/shameel123/shameel123

Whatever is stored in README.md file is shown at GitHub profile.

GitHub Profile View

This is a simple profile view on GitHub

Try adding a profile picture and beautifying your README.md file in your special repository as it works as a portfolio to show to your future clients or employers.

Markdown Syntax

Markdown is a special type of formatting that helps for documentation purpose or more precisely beautifying your documents.

GitHub supports markdown out of the box.

Here is a quick cheat-sheet that I got from here

At this stage, try to practice and learn this basic markdown syntax.
Best way to learn is to practice, not to cram.

So, start making your notes in MD file and store them on your GitHub profile.

Git - What actually is Version Control System ?

Shameel Uddin — Sun, 22 May 2022 12:17:57 +0000

I have seen many people (beginners) asking,

what is the difference between the Git and GitHub?

So, I think, this needs to be clarified in a proper post.

Generally, the ones, asking these questions, are not much aware of Git and the immense need of this tool, especially in the field of programming, whether it be development or some other application.

Git - Version Control System

Lets understand Git... a bit.

It is a Version Control System, as everyone says, but what does VCS actually mean?

Lets say, you are making notes of something in a simple text file, named as "notes.txt"

The notes were quite rough, so you refined it later and named it as, "notes - refined .txt"
Now, you have two files:

Lets say, you researched about a topic, or discussed it with a friend or someone asked a revision of it, and you are like me, you always want to keep a copy (i.e., history) of what you have been doing throughout your time on particular work.
So, you renamed it again:

As revisions, refinement, research and/or modifications increases, so would your files because you want to keep track of what you are doing and how you are doing it.

But wait... Even after all that hassle, you can keep track of versions of files but you still cannot track what you have been editing all this time, right?

One solution could be prepare Excel file where you keep names of files in one column and description of versions on another column for proper tracking of the files and their different versions.

Now, you wish, there was some assistant of yours who could arrange all of that work but unfortunately, you are not rich like me who can afford an assistant for all of this work

Enters Git!

A free of cost assistant, to manage and solve the problem that we just discussed!

We will be sharing how it solves the aforementioned problems in detail in our upcoming article.