when i first heard about Git and GitHub ,I was really confused by the two terms .more words and concepts such as repository ,commit ,SSH key ,push ,pull, were even more confusing .Knowing the definition alone did not make me understand better .instead of just going through the document provided by my institution i decided to do it practically so that i could learn more on these concepts .this article will cover how i carried out the practical exercise on my computer ,the process ,steps and the commands i used ,and my personal understanding from each step.
Step 1: Setting Up Git Locally
Before anything else, ensure Git is installed on your computer. You can check by running:
bash
git --version
If it’s not installed, download it from a secure link.
Next, configure your identity so Git knows who you are:
bash
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user .email "your.email@example.com"
This information will appear in your commit history.
Step 2: Initialize Your Local Project
Navigate to your project folder and initialize Git:
bash
cd my-first-project
git init
This command creates a hidden .git directory that tracks changes in your project.
Add your files to the staging area:
bash
git add .
Then commit them with a message:
bash
git commit -m "Initial commit"
Now your project is officially version-controlled!
Step 3: Connect to GitHub Using SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) allows you to connect to GitHub securely without typing your password every time.
Generate an SSH key:
bash
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"
Copy your public key:
bash
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
Then go to GitHub → Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key, paste it, and save.
Test the connection:
bash
ssh-T git@github.com
If you see a welcome message, you’re good to go!
4: Create a Remote Repository
On GitHub, click New Repository, give it a name (e.g., my-first-project), and choose whether it’s public or private.
Copy the SSH URL—it should look like this:
git@github.com:username/my-first-project.git
Link your local folder to this remote repository:
bash
git remote add origin git@github.com:username/my-first-project.git
5: Push Your Code to GitHub
Finally, send your local commits to GitHub:
bash
git push -u origin main
After this, your project will appear online. You can now collaborate, track changes, and share your work with others.
my Key Takeaways
- Git tracks your project history locally.
- GitHub hosts your code online for collaboration.
- SSH provides secure, password-free access.
- The basic workflow is: init → add → commit → push.
my Final Thoughts
Setting up my first GitHub project is a milestone in my developer journey. Once i,ve done it, i realize how powerful version control can be—not just for saving my work, but for learning, collaborating, and growing.
