We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Caroline Buckey and Sarah Spikes

Effective use of version control is an important and useful skill for any developer working on long-lived (or even medium-lived) projects, especially if more than one developer is involved. This course, built with input from GitHub, will introduce the basics of using version control by focusing on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub.

This course is part of the Front End and Full Stack Nanodegrees..

Here's a deal for you

Save money when you learn with a deal that may be relevant to this course.
All coupon codes, vouchers, and discounts are applied automatically unless otherwise noted.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Relevant in industry, since it focuses on Git, a widely-used version control system
Teaches version control basics, a fundamental skill for collaborative software development
Developed with input from GitHub, a leading collaboration platform for software development
Suitable for beginners, as it assumes no prior programming knowledge
Taught by experienced instructors, Caroline Buckey and Sarah Spikes
Requires familiarity with command line navigation, which may be a barrier for some learners

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Introduction to git and github basics

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in using Git and GitHub, tools fundamental for modern software development. Many found the explanations clear and concise, making complex concepts like branching and merging easy to grasp. The hands-on exercises and practical examples were frequently highlighted as being particularly helpful for applying the learned concepts. While largely positive, a few students felt the pace might be challenging for absolute beginners without prior command line experience, reinforcing the importance of the listed prerequisites. Overall, students feel it's a great starting point for version control, especially when used alongside the related Nanodegree programs.
Benefits students already familiar with command line.
"While the course is good, familiarity with the command line is definitely necessary as stated in the requirements."
"Might be a bit fast-paced if you're not comfortable using the terminal already."
"Having some prior programming experience really helped me follow along better."
"If you struggle with command line interfaces, you might find parts of this course challenging."
"As someone new to command line, I had to pause and look up some things separately."
Serves as an excellent starting point for version control.
"This course is a perfect introduction to Git and GitHub for someone with no prior knowledge."
"A great place to start if you need to learn version control for development."
"Provides a solid foundation that I can build upon with more advanced topics."
"For beginners, this course is really helpful to get the basic concepts right."
"It covers the essentials you need to get started with collaborative coding."
Hands-on labs and demos reinforce learning effectively.
"The practical exercises after each section were extremely helpful for putting theory into practice."
"Liked the hands-on approach. The labs mirrored real-world scenarios pretty well."
"The demos and activities were great for seeing how Git commands actually work."
"Being able to practice in the lab environment made a big difference in my learning."
"The exercises cemented my understanding way more than just watching videos."
Concepts are explained clearly, making them easy to grasp.
"The explanations are clear and concise, making complex Git concepts understandable."
"Loved how they broke down branching and merging into easy-to-follow steps."
"The instructor does a fantastic job explaining the core ideas without overcomplicating things."
"I found the clarity of the lectures really helped solidify my understanding of version control."
"Everything is explained really well, which is great for beginners."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in How to Use Git and GitHub with these activities:
Review key Git concepts
Begin by reviewing the fundamental ideas of Git, ensuring you have a robust understanding before delving into the course materials.
Show steps
  • Review Git documentation
  • Practice using basic Git commands
Read 'Pro Git'
Expand your knowledge by reading 'Pro Git', a comprehensive guide to Git. This book will provide a deeper understanding of the tool and its capabilities.
Show steps
  • Purchase or borrow a copy of 'Pro Git'
  • Read and study the book thoroughly
  • Reflect on the concepts and apply them to your own projects
Attend a Git workshop
Consider attending a Git workshop to gain hands-on experience and insights from experts. This can provide a structured and interactive learning environment.
Show steps
  • Research and find relevant Git workshops
  • Register and attend the workshop
  • Actively participate and engage with the講師
  • Apply what you learn to your own projects
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Explore GitHub tutorials
Supplement your learning by seeking out instructional tutorials on GitHub. This will provide practical examples and reinforce concepts covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify relevant tutorials on the GitHub website
  • Follow tutorials and complete exercises
  • Review and reflect on your progress
Complete Git exercises
Engage in regular practice by completing Git exercises. This will solidify your understanding of commands and workflows, improving your proficiency.
Show steps
  • Find online Git exercises or create your own
  • Work through the exercises, testing your skills
  • Review your results and identify areas for improvement
Collaborate with peers on Git projects
Collaborate with fellow learners on Git projects. This will provide opportunities to share knowledge, learn from others, and refine your skills through peer feedback.
Show steps
  • Form a study group or find a partner to work with
  • Choose a Git project to work on together
  • Divide the work and collaborate on completing it
  • Provide feedback and support to each other
Participate in a Git challenge or hackathon
Put your skills to the test by participating in a Git challenge or hackathon. This will provide a competitive environment to showcase your abilities and learn from others.
Show steps
  • Find and register for a relevant Git challenge or hackathon
  • Prepare and practice your skills
  • Participate in the event and collaborate with others
  • Reflect on your performance and identify areas for improvement
Contribute to an open-source Git project
Make a meaningful contribution to an open-source Git project. This will provide practical experience, expose you to real-world scenarios, and showcase your skills.
Show steps
  • Identify an open-source Git project to contribute to
  • Review the project's documentation and codebase
  • Identify an area where you can make a contribution
  • Submit a pull request with your proposed changes
  • Work with the project maintainers to refine and merge your contribution

Career center

Learners who complete How to Use Git and GitHub will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Network Engineer
Network Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and managing computer networks. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, may be useful for Network Engineers who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on network infrastructure projects.
Security Analyst
Security Analysts are responsible for protecting computer systems and networks from security threats. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, may be useful for Security Analysts who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on security projects.
Machine Learning Engineer
Machine Learning Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and deploying machine learning models. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, may be useful for Machine Learning Engineers who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on machine learning projects.
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, may be useful for Project Managers who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on projects.
Cloud Engineer
Cloud Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and managing cloud computing systems. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, can help aspiring Cloud Engineers build a foundation in version control, which is an important skill for managing and collaborating on cloud infrastructure projects.
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for analyzing business needs and designing and developing business solutions. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, may be useful for Business Analysts who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on business projects.
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for designing and developing websites and web applications. This course, which focuses on a particular version control system called Git and a collaboration platform called GitHub, can help aspiring Web Developers build a foundation in version control, which is an important skill for collaborative web development.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between development and operations teams. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, can help aspiring DevOps Engineers build a foundation in version control, which is an important skill for managing and automating software delivery pipelines.
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and managing complex systems. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Systems Engineers who want to improve their version control skills.
Data Scientist
Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Data Scientists who want to improve their version control skills.
Systems Administrator
Systems Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining computer systems. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Systems Administrators who want to improve their version control skills.
Database Administrator
Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Database Administrators who want to improve their version control skills.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for writing documentation for software and other technical products. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Technical Writers who want to improve their version control skills for managing and collaborating on documentation projects.
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for planning, developing, and launching products. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Product Managers who want to improve their version control skills.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers are responsible for analyzing user needs and designing and developing software solutions. This course, which introduces the basics of using version control, may be useful for Software Engineers who want to improve their version control skills.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in How to Use Git and GitHub.
Provides in-depth coverage of the Git version control system, including advanced topics such as branching, merging, and rebasing. It valuable reference for those who want to become proficient in Git.
Widely recognized reference book for Git, providing comprehensive coverage from the basics to advanced topics. It offers many clear-cut examples to demonstrate how to use Git efficiently.
- provides a comprehensive introduction to distributed version control systems (DVCS) using Git. It covers the fundamental concepts and tools of DVCS, making it a valuable resource for students seeking a deeper understanding of version control.
Comprehensive guide to using Git for version control. It covers all the basics of Git, as well as more advanced topics. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Git.
- a handy quick reference guide that provides a concise overview of Git commands and best practices. It is an excellent resource for quick reference or as a supplement to other learning materials.
- a concise, practical guide to Git. It focuses on teaching essential Git commands and workflows, making it suitable for beginners or those seeking a refresher.
For students interested in extending their knowledge beyond Git to include continuous integration and deployment using GitLab CI/CD, this book provides a practical guide with step-by-step instructions.
Comprehensive guide to using Subversion for version control. It covers all the basics of Subversion, as well as more advanced topics. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Subversion.
Comprehensive guide to using Mercurial for version control. It covers all the basics of Mercurial, as well as more advanced topics. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about Mercurial.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser