Github

What is it?

Git / Github is collaboration and version control software. If you continue on with Data Science (or Statistics or Computer Science), you’ll want to learn these eventually:

• Git: Typically run in the shell/terminal of your computer. Helps you track the history of a document (updates, changes, etc.)

• Github: an online repository platform that facilitates collaboration between individuals and provides a space for you to showcase your work to others.

How can I set up GitHub?

Here are some steps to take (that you’ll only have to do once!):

1. If you don’t already have one, create a Github account/username. Go to https://github.com and register an account (if you don’t have one already). Think carefully about your chosen username. You may keep this account for a LONG time. Tips:

   • Try to incorporate your actual name.
   • Reuse usernames from other accounts such as Twitter.
   • Pick something you’d be ok sharing with future employers.
   • Shorter is better.
   • Make it timeless.
   • Avoid names with words that have special meaning in programming.

2. Go to https://education.github.com/students to sign up for student benefits such as unlimited private repositories through Github Education.

3. Install Git on your machine. Instructions here

4. Provide your local Git with your name and email – same that you used for Github. Instructions here. You can stop before 7.1.

5. Go to your Github.com account and make a new repository. This is like a folder. Give it a name, provide a description, make it public, and initialize a README file.

How do I use GitHub?

• Watch Using git and GitHub in RStudio (Lisa Lendway)

• Read the tutorial corresponding to the video here

• For more detail and advanced info, read happygitwithr (Jenny Bryan)