GitHub Shell – Direct Links to Software Carpentry Lessons
A beginner-friendly guide to using Git and GitHub from the command line. This lesson provides direct links to the official Software Carpentry Version Control with Git lessons.
This tutorial is based on the resources at Software Carpentry’s Version Control with Git
Prerequisites
Before starting these lessons, make sure you have:
- A terminal or command line interface installed
- Git installed on your system
- A GitHub account (for later lessons)
Lesson Structure
Overview of version control and getting started with Git.
- What is version control and why should I use it?
- Setting up your environment for Git
Understanding how Git automatically tracks changes to your files.
- What is version control and why should I use it?
- Understanding the benefits of automated version control
Configure Git with your identity and basic settings.
- How do I get set up to use Git?
- Configuring Git for first-time use
Learn how to create a new Git repository and initialize version control.
- Where does Git store information?
- Creating your first repository
Use git add and git commit to track and save your changes.
- How do I record changes in Git?
- The modify-add-commit cycle
Additional Resources
Practice Activities
After completing each lesson, try these hands-on activities:
- Create a local repository and make your first commit
- Practice the modify-add-commit cycle with a simple text file
- Explore Git history using
git log and git diff
- Set up a GitHub account and prepare for remote repositories
Getting Help
- Use
git --help for command-line help
- Check the Git documentation
- Ask questions in the course discussion forum
This lesson structure provides direct access to the comprehensive Software Carpentry Git lessons while maintaining a clear learning path for students.