Your First Repository

Start in the browser

You don't need to install anything to start. GitHub lets you create repositories and commit changes on the website. (Later you can install GitHub Desktop or use Git on the command line.)

Create a repository

1. On GitHub, click + (top right) → New repository.
2. Repository name: short and clear, with hyphens, such as sales-analysis or my-first-website.
3. Description: one sentence on what it is.
4. Choose Public (anyone can see it, which is good for a portfolio) or Private.
5. Tick Add a README file.
6. Click Create repository.

Add and edit files

• Add a file: click Add file → Create new file, type a name such as notes.md, write something, then scroll down.
• Upload files: click Add file → Upload files and drag in your work, for example a spreadsheet, a notebook or images.
• Edit a file: open it and click the pencil icon.

Each time, GitHub asks you to commit changes. That's your save point.

Write good commit messages

A commit message says what changed. Future you (and anyone reviewing your work) will read these.

Start with a verb (Add, Fix, Update, Remove) and keep it under about 60 characters.

See the history

Click Commits (near the top of the file list, with a clock icon) to see every change, who made it and when. Click any commit to see exactly what changed: removed lines in red, added lines in green.

Try it

1. Create a public repository called learning-log with a README.
2. Add a file called week-1.md and write three things you learned this week.
3. Commit it with a clear message such as "Add week 1 learning notes".
4. Edit the README to say what the repository is for, and commit again.
5. Open the commit history and look at what changed.