Beginner10 min

Install Git on your system and create your first GitHub repository to start saving your code.

Setting Up Git & GitHub

Think of building a project like playing an old school game without auto-save. As you're building, you want to utilize GitHub to save your progress. That way, if something goes wrong you can easily go back to a previous version of your project.

Trust me from experience, there is no worse feeling than when you've been working days on a project to then break something and not be able to fix it.

So my advice is, as you're building develop the mentality of when you make changes to your code and it works, commit it to GitHub.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have:

  • An existing project folder on your computer
  • A GitHub account (expand below if you need to create one)
  • Git installed on your system (expand below if you need to install it)

Create Your First Repository

1. Create a New Repository on GitHub

Go to https://github.com and sign in to your account.

2. Start Creating Your Repository

In the upper-right corner of any page, click the + icon, then select New repository.

3. Configure Your Repository

Give your repository a name like "my-project" and you can add a description if you like.

4. Set Repository Visibility

For visibility, you have the option to choose private or public. Choose private to keep your code secure while learning.

5. Create the Repository

Click the Create repository button. Important: Do not initialize with README, .gitignore, or license files since you're adding an existing project.

6. Copy the Repository URL

After creating the repository, scroll down to the "...or push an existing repository from the command line" section and copy the commands shown.

Connect Your Local Project

7. Open Your Terminal

Navigate to your project directory:

Terminal
cd your-project-folder

8. Initialize Git

If your project isn't already a Git repository, initialize it:

Terminal
git init

9. Add Your Files

Add all your project files to Git:

Terminal
git add .

10. Make Your First Commit

Commit your files with a descriptive message:

Terminal
git commit -m "Initial commit"

11. Connect to GitHub

Add your GitHub repository as the remote origin (replace with your actual URL):

Terminal
git remote add origin https://github.com/yourusername/your-repo-name.git

12. Set the Default Branch

Ensure you're on the main branch:

Terminal
git branch -M main

13. Push Your Code

Push your local repository to GitHub:

Terminal
git push -u origin main

14. Verify Your Setup

Go back to your GitHub repository page and refresh. You should now see all your project files uploaded to GitHub.

Next Steps

Your project is now connected to GitHub! You can:

  • Make changes locally and push them with git push
  • Create branches for new features
  • Collaborate with others by sharing your repository
  • Use GitHub's issue tracking and project management features

Your code is now safely backed up and version controlled. Every change you make can be tracked, and you can always revert to previous versions if needed.

Mark this lesson as complete to track your progress