Managing project history manually gets messy fast. That is where Git and GitHub come in—the industry standards for tracking code history and collaborating with other developers.
1. Git vs. GitHub: What’s the Difference?
Many beginners mix up Git and GitHub, but they are 2 separate things:
Git : A local command-line tool installed on your computer do not need internet or anything.
GitHub : A platform that hosts your Git repositories online so you can store backups and share code with teams now powered by Microsoft.
2. The 3 Main Part of Git
To master Git, picture three zones on your local system:
- Working Directory: Where you actively edit your Python code files.
- Staging Area : A temporary zone where we select or check files we are trying to upload.
- GitHub Repository : Your directory on the cloud.
3. Essential Git Commands Workflow To Push Existing Folder/Directory Work To A New Repo
Step 1: Initialize a Repository
Turn any project folder into a Git-tracked folder:
git init
Step 2: Track Changes (Staging)
Select a single file or select all modified files at once to be upload:
git add your_file_name
# OR stage everything:
git add .
Step 3: Save Your Changes Or Add A Message(Committing)
Take a proof of your selected files with a clear message and a message to show in history that why you did it:
git commit -m "Add initial user login function"
4. Connecting Local Git to GitHub
Once you’ve made local commits, push your work to GitHub:
Link to Remote Repository
Link your local project folder to a blank GitHub repository:
git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/your-repo-name.git
Push Code Up to GitHub
Send your saved commits to the main branch online:
git push -u origin main # -u is only required first time.
Core Commands Cheat Sheet
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
git status | View modified files in your working directory |
git log | Review full commit history |
git clone <url> | Download an existing repository from GitHub |
git pull | Fetch and merge the latest code updates from GitHub |
4. Downloading Existing Git Repo To Your System And Work With It
Step 1: Clone the Repository (git clone)
To copy an entire repository from GitHub down to your local computer, copy its HTTPS URL from GitHub and run:
git clone https://github.com/username/repository-name.git
This creates a new folder on your computer named after the repository, complete with all project files and its full commit history.
Pro Tip: Navigate inside the newly created folder right after cloning!
cd repository-name
Step 2: Check the Project Status (git status)
Before making changes, it’s good practice to inspect the current state of your working directory:
git status
This tells you which branch you are currently on and confirms that your working space is clean and up to date.
Step 3: Make Changes, Stage, and Commit
Edit your code files as usual. Once you’re done and tested your updates, Add and commit changes:
# 1. Stage the specific file you modified
git add xyz.py
# 2. Commit the changes with a clear message
git commit -m "Fix calculation bug in xyz.py"
Step 4: Fetch Latest Updates Before Pushing (git pull & git push)
If other people (or you on another machine) updated the remote repository while you were working, you should pull the latest changes first to keep everything in same page:
# Get the latest changes from GitHub
git pull origin main
Finally, upload your new local commits up to GitHub:
# Push your commits up to the remote main branch
git push origin main