GitHub: What Is It and What Does It Do?
GitHub has become a crucial tool in the world of software engineering. In essence, it is a cloud-based version control system (VCS) called Git. With over 25 million registered users, this service enables developers to collaborate and make changes to shared projects, allowing for a detailed follow-up on their progress at the same time.
GitHub is the core of many development workflows and provides useful teamwork tools within a project. This article will provide five daily tips that can increase your efficiency and visibility when using GitHub enabling you to tap into all the potential of this versatile software development platform while finding employment and boosting your career.
1. Update Your Code Constantly
Recruiters not only verify a GitHub account’s content but its activity as well. An account that is constantly active shows persistence and commitment. Git allows you to make micro-updates to your code every time you need it. There is no doubt that Git is much more than a simple security copy tool.
Ideally, you should make small changes and publish them frequently instead of waiting until the end of the day to register your version. For example, on a collaborative project, the code can change countless times. Saving versions often means it will be easier to find possible errors in these versions instead of looking through hundreds of lines of code.
2. Write Clean, Organized, and Commented Code
Write a README that describes the project’s objectives with precision. You also need to use a well-organized file system with names that indicate the content of each file, so it’s easier to understand and more efficient to use.
The code should not contain any duplicate or copied lines. For this reason, you should create functions that result in well-structured code. When leaving comments in the code, the rule is to ensure that any person outside the project can go over it and understand it clearly.
Recruiters value work quality regardless of the project’s objective.
3. Use GitHub Pages
GitHub is an excellent tool and since it is so collaborative, it will never stop improving. The GitHub community is enormous, filled with people who are always active, making updates and adding new features.
One of the most recent features is GitHub Pages. Although it’s simple, GitHub Pages is advantageous since it allows you to view projects in real-time and in their real hosting environment. For example, if your project is a website, you can use the index.html file and activate a service in the file’s configuration tab that will allow you to view and present the project instantly in its final form. This means you can show the project to anyone who is interested. In addition, every time you update the code in your file, these changes will also be applied visually. Therefore, you do not need to deploy to another platform or wait for changes to be applied. Without FTP, HOSTING, domains, DNS, etc., GitHub provides you with everything you need.
4. Adding Badges to Your GitHub Repository
Technically, this is not a feature provided by GitHub. But this tip can help make your GitHub repository look more professional and reflect your project status.
Some communities provide badges to developers. Alternatively, you can get general badges from providers such as shields.io. The latter can read your project status and generate a corresponding badge. Additionally, you can create your own badges on shields.io.
5. Contribute
It’s ideal to work on projects that are also interesting for the developer community. With community work, your profile will get more views and will give you more visibility. In addition, you can help solve other developers’ problems and create original content. Finally, it’s a great way to meet other people with whom you can collaborate on different projects.
It is also essential to look for interesting files or libraries and improve them or report any possible errors. GitHub even has a system that allows you to open tickets with a file’s creator if you want to solve a problem on one of its versions.
For example, you can download a project, solve the error, and send the corrected code to its creator, who can accept the solution and include it in their final project.
Key Takeaways
- GitHub is a cloud-based version control system that enables developers to collaborate and make changes to shared projects, allowing for a detailed follow-up on their progress.
- It is crucial to update your code constantly, but you also have to write a well-organized, clear code.
- GitHub Pages allows you to view projects in real-time and in their real hosting environment; it will also enable you to present the project to anyone who is interested.
- Contributing with the GitHub community is an excellent way to increase the visibility of your professional profile.
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