Start · ~20 min

Before you start

Goal: Understand what Git and GitHub are, and set up your practice environment.

Git vs GitHub — quick mental model

  • Git is version control software on your computer. It tracks changes to files over time so you can undo mistakes, compare versions, and work on features safely.
  • GitHub is a website that hosts Git repositories online. It adds collaboration tools: issues, pull requests, reviews, and free static website hosting (GitHub Pages).

Think of Git as the engine in your laptop, and GitHub as the garage + team workspace on the internet.

What you need

  • A laptop or desktop with internet
  • A personal email you check regularly (for account verification)
  • Optional but recommended: install Git for your OS and a code editor such as VS Code

How to use this course

  1. Complete one module page at a time — about 3–6 hours total for all nine.
  2. Do every hands-on step yourself — reading alone is not enough.
  3. Tick off the checklist at the end of each module.
  4. Watch mentor videos when links are added (or search YouTube for the module title).

Checklist

  • I understand the difference between Git and GitHub
  • I have a laptop and internet for practice
  • I know this course takes roughly 3–6 hours in total