If you’ve heard people talk about GitHub but have no idea what it actually is or why you need it, this guide is for you. By the end of this you’ll have an account, your first repository, and a basic understanding of how the whole thing works.
What is GitHub and Why Does it Matter?
GitHub is essentially a place to store your code online. Think of it like Google Drive but specifically built for code. It lets you save your work, track every change you’ve ever made, and collaborate with other people on the same project without everything descending into chaos.
For anyone studying computing, going into software engineering, or trying to break into tech — GitHub is non-negotiable. It’s the first thing employers look at, and having an active profile with real projects on it is one of the best things you can do for your CV.
Step 1 — Create Your Account
Head to github.com and sign up for a free account. A few tips when setting up:
- Use a professional username — this will be on your CV. Your name or a variation of it is always a safe choice
- Use an email address you actually check
- The free plan is more than enough to get started
Step 2 — Download Git
GitHub is the website, but Git is the tool that runs underneath it on your computer. You need both.
Go to git-scm.com and download Git for your operating system. Run through the installer — the default settings are fine for beginners.
Once it’s installed, open your terminal (Command Prompt on Windows, Terminal on Mac) and type:
git --version
If it returns a version number, Git is installed correctly.
Step 3 — Set Up Git on Your Computer
Before you do anything else, tell Git who you are. Open your terminal and type these two commands, replacing the details with your own:
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"
This just means your changes get labelled with your name when you save them.
Step 4 — Create Your First Repository
A repository (or repo) is basically a folder for your project. Everything related to that project lives inside it.
To create one on GitHub:
- Click the + icon in the top right corner of GitHub
- Select New repository
- Give it a name — something simple like “my-first-project”
- Add a description if you want
- Keep it Public for now (this is what employers can see)
- Tick Add a README file — this creates a file where you can describe your project
- Click Create repository
You now have your first repo!
Step 5 — Clone the Repository to Your Computer
Cloning means downloading a copy of your GitHub repo onto your computer so you can actually work on it.
- On your repo page click the green Code button
- Copy the URL it shows you
- Open your terminal and navigate to where you want to save the project — for example your Documents folder
- Type:
git clone [paste the URL here]
A folder will appear on your computer with your project inside it.
Step 6 — Make Changes and Save Them
This is the part most beginners find confusing at first, but it becomes second nature quickly. There are three steps to saving your work to GitHub:
Add — tell Git which files you want to save git add . (The dot means “everything in this folder”)
Commit — save a snapshot of those files with a message describing what you did git commit -m "Added my first file"
Push — send those saved changes up to GitHub git push
Every time you make a change and want to save it to GitHub, you run these three commands. Add, commit, push. That’s the core workflow.
Step 7 — Write a Good README
Your README is the first thing anyone sees when they visit your repo. It should explain what the project is, what it does, and how to use it. Even for small projects, a clear README makes you look professional.
A basic README should include:
- What the project is
- Why you built it
- How to run or use it
- Any technologies used
You can edit your README directly on GitHub by clicking the pencil icon on the file.
Step 8 — Make Your Profile Look Good
Your GitHub profile is essentially your tech CV. A few things to sort:
- Add a profile photo
- Write a short bio — one sentence about who you are and what you’re learning
- Pin your best repositories to the top of your profile so they’re the first thing people see
- Try to commit code regularly — the green activity graph on your profile shows employers you’re actively building things
Key Terms to Know
- Repository — a folder for your project
- Commit — a saved snapshot of your code at a point in time
- Push — sending your commits up to GitHub
- Pull — downloading the latest changes from GitHub to your computer
- Branch — a separate version of your project you can work on without affecting the main version
- README — a description file for your project
What Next?
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, the next steps are learning about branching (working on new features without breaking your main project) and making your first open source contribution. Both of those are covered in the ThinkDataHub newsletter — along with practical challenges to help you build a portfolio worth showing employers.