GitHub is both a website and a service. It’s a web-based hosting service used for version control. What does that ever mean? Well, first of all, a version control system is in charge of the management of the changes made it to an app or a source code. With this service, you can modify and make changes to the code and everything will be registered and labeled with and incremental number or “version”. Let’s talk more about this topic to give you a better idea of what is GitHub.
GitHub. Two ideas merged: what is Git?
GitHub is based on Git, one of the best version control system. It’s open source and it was created by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. What can a version control system do? Well, if you write a code or create an app, you can put that code in Git. The first version uploaded is the “original” version, and everyone can download that version, apply some changes and modifications and upload it again. Git will store those modifications for others user to see it, allowing easy collaborations among developers.
Git is one the most used version control system because the efficiency of the file storage and integrity. This makes it the preferred choice over other version control system like Subversion, Source Safe, Mercurial, etc.
What is hub?
The hub is the web part. Github.com, where all the developers can share their knowledge, participate in new projects, help other developers and more. Why is GitHub so popular? Because the people can easily connect with other projects.
Some of the reasons that make GitHub the popular choice among developer are:
- Repository: this is the location where the files of a particular project are stored, using and unique url that you can use to access to the project.
- “Forking”: this is the term used by developers when you start a project using another one as a base. With this option, you cans see if the original project receives and update and you can easily add it to your own version.
- Pull Request: This request put you in contact with the developers of the original project. They can see your “forked” repository and is a great way to communicate with the authors and see if they like your revision.
- Social Networking: with this, you can have some sort of “resume” or profile, when you can show your works and projects, giving authors a way to confirm that you are a developer who can do the work.
- Changelogs: this is the way GitHub uses to keep an eye in all the changes made it to a repository. What part of the code was changed, when and where are the files.
GitHub, for all kind of needs
Picture this: you are doing some team group work where everyone needs to put information in a document or add content to a Word file. GitHub can be the solution to your problems. If you store a document, you can share it with your group for everyone to see it and add, modify or delete information. Remember, GitHub will give the information of who, when and where a change was make it.
