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Kervie Sazon
Kervie Sazon

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Git & GitHub Learning Notes

#github #git #beginners #tutorial

Today I studied the basics of Git and GitHub. These are essential tools for developers to track code changes and collaborate with others. I’m writing these notes so I can quickly remember the workflow when I use them again.

1. What is Git?

Git is a version control system that helps developers:

  • Track changes in code
  • Revert to previous versions
  • Work on projects collaboratively

Instead of saving multiple copies of files, Git keeps a history of changes.

2. What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud platform that hosts Git repositories online. It allows developers to:

  • Store code remotely
  • Collaborate with teams
  • Share projects publicly

Think of it as Git + cloud storage + collaboration tools.

3. Cloning a Repository

Cloning means downloading an existing repository from GitHub to your local machine.

Command 

git clone <repository-url>
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Example 

git clone https://github.com/username/project-name.git
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After cloning, a folder with the project will be created on your computer.

4. The Basic Git Workflow

The typical Git workflow looks like this:

Edit files
   ↓
git add
   ↓
git commit
   ↓
git push
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5. git add Command

The git add command moves changes into the staging area.

The staging area is where you prepare files before committing them.

Add a specific file 

git add index.html
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Add all changes 

git add .
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6. git commit Command

A commit saves a snapshot of the staged changes into Git history.

Command 

git commit -m "your message"
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Example 

git commit -m "Add index.html page"
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Tips for commit messages

Good commit messages are:

  • Short
  • Clear
  • Descriptive

Examples:

  • Add login page
  • Fix navigation bug
  • Update README

7. git push Command

git push uploads your commits to GitHub.

Command 

git push
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If it's your first push:

git push --set-upstream origin main
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After that, you can simply run:

git push
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8. SSH Key

An SSH key allows you to connect to GitHub securely without typing your username and password every time.

It works like a secure authentication key between your computer and GitHub.

Generate SSH key 

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
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View your public key 

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
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Copy the key and add it to GitHub under:

Settings → SSH and GPG Keys
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9. Useful Git Commands

Check repository status 

git status
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See commit history 

git log
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Check remote repository 

git remote -v
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10. My Simple Daily Git Workflow

When working on a project, I will usually do:

git add .
git commit -m "describe what I changed"
git push
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Key Takeaways 🧠

  • git clone → download a repository
  • git add → stage files
  • git commit → save changes locally
  • git push → upload changes to GitHub
  • SSH key → secure authentication without passwords

Learning Git and GitHub felt confusing at first, but understanding the basic workflow (add → commit → push) makes it much easier. I’ll keep practicing these commands while working on small projects.

Next topics I want to learn:

  • Branching
  • Pull requests
  • Merging
  • Git collaboration workflows

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