GitHub

What Is GitHub?

GitHub is a platform for hosting and managing code repositories using version control. It serves as the world’s largest source code platform, enabling developers to share and upload software, files, and documentation. It also facilitates social coding, where multiple developers can collaborate to write code or contribute to the uploaded files.

It was launched in 2008 as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company. GitHub is built on top of Git, an open-source version control system created by Linus Torvalds to improve software builds. Git facilitates tracking of changes in source code or content. This allows GitHub to store source code and track the complete history of changes made. In 2018, GitHub was acquired by tech giant Microsoft and has operated as a subsidiary of the company ever since. 

For flexibility, the platform is tailored to support many file formats, features, and programming languages, including languages for blockchain development. Some of the most popular blockchain projects, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, are published on GitHub, allowing users globally to contribute to their source code.

How Does It Work?

The platform allows registered users to create their own repositories – a directory or folder for files and content, along with version histories. With a repository, a user can create a master or main branch, which serves as a central starting point for any project. 

Other branches (sub-branches) can stem from the main branch, on which the original repository owner or contributors can handle different aspects of the project. The owner can also assign contributors different roles and editing privileges. 

What’s more, the account holder can make the repository public or private. Public repositories allow anyone to suggest code modifications, which can eventually become part of the project’s new version. On the other hand, private repositories restrict access and are available only to users granted roles or editing privileges.

What Are the Core Features of GitHub?

Some of this platform’s standout features include:

• Pull request – a request to merge changes from one branch with another branch. Pull requests allow developers to share suggestions or code modifications with the project owner and discuss potential changes. 
• GitHub Actions – a feature that automates software workflows. It allows developers to customize workflows that automatically build, test, package, and deploy their code based on certain events, such as new commits or schedules.
• GitHub Pages – allows developers to host static websites directly from their GitHub repository.
• GitHub Desktop – enables users to track changes, add commits, create branches, and perform certain tasks from an intuitive, user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI).
• Issue tracking – a built-in tracking system that allows users to report issues such as bugs. Developers can also create issues made up of tasks, suggestions, or bugs, which they can categorize and prioritize to fix an issue.
• Code review – Allows users to ask questions, highlight lines of code, propose alternatives, and request changes within the platform’s interface.