Git and Github are open source sites developed by Linus Torvalds, the founder of Linux. Github is not a “client” of Git.
Basically, Git is the parent site for a number of offshoots, but Github the is most utilized. At its core, Git is a distributed version control system.
This means that when a developer using Git makes changes to their project, they put their work out onto a virtual bulletin board and any Git user can modify it to suit their own project–the basis of open source software.
Github is a repository hosting service around which the Git projects revolve, and makes it easy for Git users all over the world to collaborate.
Simply put, Github is the hub and Git is the spoke–and there are millions of spokes revolving around that hub.
What Exactly Is Git, And How Does It Work?
Git is a A distributed version control center is a system that does not need a central servers to store all the versions of a project’s files.
In other words, tech geeks like to use cool-kid lingo that beginners may not know.
Every individual developer clones a copy of a repository and has all the metadata and history of the original. Modern programming language is mostly plain text, disk space is cheap, so cloning all this data doesn’t make a dent in your hard drive.
Git differs from SVN (Subversion) and CVS (concurrent version system) in that every developer has access to the repository that houses the complete history of all the changes of a given project.
With SVN and CVS, the only complete version of the software’s history was in one single place. The repository, or repo, is where all the files for a given project are stored.
Don’t spend a lot of time trying to figure out what Git stands for–Torvald’s native language is Finnish, so there’s really no telling. According to open source lore, Git stands for “the stupid content tracker”.
How Github Works With Git
Github pulls the data from the Git spokes, and holds it all in the repository. And here’s a little more Lingo for you — A “git init” command is the first stop on the Github road map, and from there, you pull the data in from one spoke and and push it back out to another.
Github lets developers fork–peel off an existing project to start their own. Forking encourages collaboration among all the Git spokes on the hub, and this capability is what sets it apart from sites like Bitbucket and other open source projects.
The forked code shoots out in another spoke, and the developer uses Git to work on their new version of the code.
Once that project is working, the developer can then initiate a pull request–showing the Github repo managers your work, and then they have the option of merging your work in the final web development project–with just one click.
How Github Is Useful For Developers
Github is useful for developers, because coding and programming can be fairly lonely work.
Working remotely is pretty much the norm unless you’re in an area that’s a tech hotbed. Github is a social network for tech geeks, connecting developers with like-minded people across the globe.
Every developer has a profile on Github, but forget uploading your cat videos. Instead, a Github profile shows your work–projects you’ve worked on, and any pull requests you’ve made to contribute to projects. In that sense, Github is an ever-evolving resume.
The beauty of Github is that your collaborations can link you with developers who may already have a solution to a problem you’ve been working on, and the open source concept gives you access to their technology.
What Languages Do I Need For Git and Github?
JavaScript and Python are the most common languages for Github users, followed closely by Java, C++, and C. Twenty-five percent of Github collaborators use JavaScript, but Python is emerging as the second language of choice, overtaking Java.
How Does Git And Github Fit Into DevOps?
If you’re an aspiring developer, Git and Github are essential to understanding version control systems.
Git and Github are the premier systems in the development world today, so you can master VCS before you learn a programming language. Version control manages the entire project, starting with the configuration data for infrastructure.
Web servers, firewalls, routers, and monitoring systems all fall under the infrastructure umbrella, as well as the source code that’s stashed in the repository. This is referred to as CI (continuous integration) in tech world, and it means that changes to the project are uniformly and constantly updating.
Professional Advantages Of Git-ting It
Git and the adjacent suite of sites is one if the core knowledge bases of being a good software developer.
Open source programming is the way real innovation happens in the tech world, and a comprehensive resource like Git lets you work with the best and brightest in the business.
The social network component of Git is a real thing–many developers use their Git profile as a part of their resume–a prospective employer can easily see proficiency and code contributions. Git is not a CV replacement since some of the best software developers fly under the Git radar and don’t network much or push code.
Wrapping It All Up
Any cutting edge or widely-used technologies you can add to your skill set is are assets as your career grows, and being proficient with all aspects of the Git universe will help you advance.
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Sources
https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/sbir-2018-buildsimhub-development-git-based-energy-model-management-platform
https://cdcvs.fnal.gov/redmine/projects/fermi-redmine/wiki/Git
https://code.nsa.gov
https://git.commerce.gov/users/sign_inhttps://chesapeakebay.noaa.gov/fisheries-hot-topics/fisheries-git-meets-discusses-key-species
https://www.howtogeek.com/180167/htg-explains-what-is-github-and-what-do-geeks-use-it-for/
https://www.informationweek.com/interop/devops-beginner-start-with-git/d/d-id/1113798
