What is GitHub?

GitHub is a software for version control.

Version control: A system to manage changes to files in a way that reverting to an old version is quick and easy.

Write. Scratch that. Rewrite.

Why use GitHub?

Save yourself from coffee spills, have an online backup for free

GitHub lets you time travel

Branch and Merge

Things are going great. Then someone has a wild idea.

How to experiment without messing up everything?

Enter GitHub branches.

Step 1: Install Git

Go to Terminal and write which git

and git --version to see Git version

If both commands work, jump to next step. If not, install Git.

MacOS

If you don't already have Git installed, writing git --version would present you with an offer to install Xcode command line tools. Accept the offer.

Windows

Install Git for Windows from "https://gitforwindows.org"

Linux

Ubuntu or Debian Linux:

sudo apt-get install git

Fedora or RedHat Linux:

sudo yum install git

Step 2: Configure Git

We will use usethis::create_github_token() function from usethis package. Recommended scope is auto-selected. 1 [1] If you don't have usethis and gitcreds, install with install.packages(c("usethis", "gitcreds"))

usethis::create_github_token()

Copy the generated Personal Access Token (PAT) and leave the browser window open.

Now, open gitcreds with

gitcreds::gitcreds_set()

and paste your PAT when asked for password.

Go Vols!

Step 3: Create GitHub Repo

Create a new GitHub repo and copy it's link.

Step 4: Create a New R Project

Step 5: Create files, make changes and commit!

Committing Together 🫶

Everyone can commit on the main branch directly

You will need to invite collaborators to your respository. See Inviting collaborators to a personal repository

1. On GitHub.com, go to your repository
2. Open repo's Settings
3. In the "Access" section of the sidebar, click Collaborators & teams.
4. Click Invite a collaborator.
5. Enter their email or username.

Your proposed collaborators will be invited to your repository. They have seven days to accept the offer.

What's Next?

Branches

Pull requests

Collaboration

Private repository

GitHub Pro is free for students and educators