How to use Github

[Frank14]

Hi,

I've visited that site and I should say it looks very sophisticated and complicated to me. The newcomer doesn't know how and where to start taking advantages if the site is useful. It's overwhelming for a starter but maybe
very great if we are used to it. I want you if possible guide me on this.

As well as, if you have experience on that website please guide me on:

1- For what people is it good?
2- How to use it to be correctly useful?

[JLBorges]

Read a tutorial, for instance: https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials
Start with 'Beginner' and then move on to 'Getting Started'

Install a front-end which makes it easy for a beginner to use git or hg.
This is the best one that I have found (but alas, it's only for Windows or Mac)
https://www.sourcetreeapp.com/
Again, start with the tutorial:
https://confluence.atlassian.com/bitbucket/tutorial-learn-sourcetree-with-bitbucket-cloud-760120235.html

[Frank14]

Read a tutorial, for instance: https://www.atlassian.com/git/tutorials
Start with 'Beginner' and then move on to 'Getting Started'

Thank you.
I'm reading these parts now but allow me please to share my thoughts about github:

a) I think it's a site for sharing codes. It's mostly for teams and organisations that all work on open source projects.

b) As a sole programmer, like me, the site can be useful if I have some project whereby I have and want to share the source code and want people to participate in it for cooperation.

c) I don't think one person who works on their non-open-course application would have much desire to use github.

Are these right please?

I installed git GUI and used these commands in command prompt:
git config --global user.name "my name" (without $)
git config --global user.email "my email" (without $)

[JLBorges]

> a) I think it's a site for sharing codes.

It is useful to distinguish between git and github.
Git is a widely used distributed version control software.
Github is a popular web based repository (of primarily code) that uses git for version control.


> It's mostly for teams and organisations that all work on open source projects.

Github does not dictate how the code that you place in github should be licensed. However, if the code is placed in a public repository on github, anyone can view (and license permitting, fork) the repository (though this, by itself, does not grant any right to use the code).

You're under no obligation to choose a license. However, without a license, the default copyright laws apply, meaning that you retain all rights to your source code and no one may reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from your work.
https://help.github.com/articles/licensing-a-repository/

It is also possible to host private repositories on github, which can't be viewed by others; but this is a paid service.


> c) I don't think one person who works on their non-open-course application would have much desire to use github.

True. You may still want to use git, because it is a good version control system; version control is useful for single-person software which needs to be refined and maintained over a period of time.


> Are these right please?

Yes. Setting the default (--global) user name and email address is the right first step.

[Frank14]

Thank you.

I have a gui app that incidentally if I can publish it on github and somehow tell people (if there is forum there) to help me there it could be fine because I couldn't find an answer for that in forums. Although I'm not sure does it costs that huge time that I need to be completely familiar with github or not?!

For git too, I use an IDE for my app and have backed it up in many places so git too seem not very useful for me.