What are Git and GitHub, and How Do I Set Them Up?

3 minute read

What is Git?

Git is a free, open-source version control system that helps developers track changes to their code. It’s the most widely used version control system in the world. Every coder has their own codebase and can work on it at any time. You can create branches, merge them, and delete (and undelete!) them with ease, making it very easy to track changes and revert to older versions of the code.

It is particularly popular with software developers and collaborative teams. It is not yet widely popular with political scientists (who are often hesitant about coding), but it should be—and is becoming more popular!

Git is open-source and free.

Git comes with a terminal called GitBash.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud-based hosting service and website that helps software developers store, track, and collaborate on projects. It’s often described as a “social network for programmers” that encourages collaboration and sharing.

It uses Git to move files and track changes while multiple people work on the same project simultaneously.

Developers use GitHub to showcase their code and work ethic through their profiles.

Getting Started with GitHub

Go to GitHub and explore the interface.
Click on a profile, navigate projects, and familiarize yourself with the site.
Visit Adee’s R Workshop page—this will be our focus.

Opening Git

Think of a repository (repo) as a folder where all your code and data are stored. You can share this folder and edit it as needed.

There are two types of repositories:

A local repo (on your device).
A cloud repo (on GitHub).

Opening GitBash (PC) or Terminal (Mac)

For Windows:

Type bash into the search bar and hit Enter.

For Mac:

Open Terminal (or any preferred shell).

Configuring Git

Before using Git, set your user information:

git config --global user.name "Adee Weller"
git config --global user.email "adee.weller@emory.edu"
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

This ensures all commits are associated with your identity and sets main as the default branch.

Helpful Commands:

Get help for a command:
```
git <command> -h
```
Clear the terminal:
```
clear
```

Creating a Local Git Repository

Move to Your Working Directory

cd path/to/directory

If the folder doesn’t exist, create one:

mkdir foldername

Initialize Git Repo

git init

Check if it worked:

git status

Adding Files to Git

Create a blank file:

touch newfile_AW.txt

(Replace “AW” with your initials.)

Verify the file exists:

ls

Rename the file if needed:

git mv "Old_name" "New_name"

Staging Files for Commit

Think of staging like preparing files before pushing them live.

Add a file to the staging area:

git add newfile_AW.txt

To track all files:

git add .

To unstage a file:

git rm --cached <filename>

To prevent Git from tracking specific files (e.g., sensitive data), create a .gitignore file.

Committing Changes

A commit records a snapshot of the repository.

git commit -m "Added new file"

Check commit history:

git log --oneline

To undo a commit:

git reset ######  # Replace ###### with the commit ID

Branching in Git

Branches allow you to work on different versions of a project.

Create a new branch:

git branch my-branch

List branches:

git branch

Switch to a branch:

git switch my-branch

Commit changes to the branch:

git add .
git commit -m "Changes in new branch"

Merge the branch back to main:

git merge my-branch

Delete the branch:

git branch -d my-branch

Pushing Code to GitHub

Creating a GitHub Repository

Go to GitHub.
Click “New” and create a repository.

Linking Local Repo to GitHub

git remote add origin <repository-URL>
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

To push all branches:

git push --all

To pull new changes:

git pull

Cloning an Existing Repo

To work on a project from GitHub, clone it:

git clone https://github.com/adeeweller/R_Workshop.git

Navigate into the cloned repo:

cd R_Workshop

Check which remote is set:

git remote -v

Update remote URL if needed:

git remote set-url origin <new-link>

Pull with rebase to apply local changes:

git pull --rebase origin main

Final Notes

Git and GitHub are essential tools for version control and collaboration. While political scientists are still catching on, these tools are becoming more popular in the field.

By mastering Git, you gain:

✅ Better organization.
✅ Version control safety.
✅ Seamless collaboration.

Happy coding! 🚀

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