Git and GitHub are likely familiar terms to developers. What are they, though, and how do they differ? Version control is the initial response.

Version control is essential for any developer who has worked on a project with many team members. It’s crucial to have a method to track changes and make sure that everyone is working from the same version of the code when multiple people are contributing to a codebase.

In this blog, we’ll examine Git in more detail in comparison to Github to determine why coders love it so much. But before all that, we need to learn about (or revise) the concept of version control, and then we can dive straight into the actual tea.

What is version control?

You can monitor the evolution of your code using a version control system (VCS). For developers who frequently have to work on the same codebase simultaneously, it is crucial. They can use it to log changes, undo mistakes, and work on programming with others. However, utilizing version control might be advantageous for anyone who frequently deals with changing files.

Although there are numerous available version control systems, Git is by far the most widely used. Git was the VCS utilized by 78.0% of respondents in a 2018 study of over 100,000 engineers. Git is a distributed version control system, which implies it doesn’t rely on a centralized server, which explains why. Git is hence more adaptable than other VCSs and it’s also why Git is the VCS of choice for open-source projects.

Developers can use VCS to view the project’s history to find out information like What modifications were made? Who produced them? Did they happen when? What did the modifications serve to accomplish?

Now that you are familiar with the basics of version control, let’s examine the differences between Git and GitHub.

What is Git?

Since its creation by Linus Torvalds in 2005, Git has become the most widely used VCS. It is open-source, free, and made to manage modest to extremely large tasks quickly and effectively. Because of its adaptable architecture, it may be seamlessly incorporated into your workflow. For instance, you can use Git to manage all the files in your project or just a select few items that are crucial to you.

Why use Git?

Git gives developers a thorough overview of their adjustments, choices, and advancement on any project. Developers get immediate access to a project’s complete history, providing them with all the background information they require to comprehend it and begin making contributions.

Git facilitates distributed development, allowing every developer to have a complete local history of their code modifications. Git also enables non-linear development by enabling developers to work on many code branches concurrently and merge them when they are complete.

Basic Git Commands

A string of text known as a Git command instructs Git what to perform. Although each Git command has a distinct function, they all operate together to aid developers in keeping track of their code changes.

Here are some common git commands:

• git init: Initialize a new git repository. This is the first command you should run when starting a new project.
• git init: Create a new git repository from scratch. When beginning a new project, you should run this command first.
• git clone: Clone a repository in git already. You can make a local clone of a remote repository with this command. 
• git add: Put documents in a repository. Using this command, you can update or add new files to an existing git repository. git commit
• Make changes to a repository. Your modifications are saved to the git history when you run this command.
• git push:  Send updates to a remote git repository. With this command, your local commits are pushed to a distant git repository.
• git pull Download updates from a remote git repository. This command adds any remote modifications to your local git repository by downloading them.
• git status: View your git repository’s current status. This will reveal which files have been edited and which ones git is monitoring.
• git log: View the git repository’s commit history. This is helpful for determining when and who made particular changes.
• git reset: Set your git repository’s reset point to a certain commit. You can reset your git history or undo changes to a file using this command.

How to Use Git

Typically, the command line is used to operate Git. These commands can be executed using the Git command line interface (CLI). On macOS and Linux, the Git command-line tool is preinstalled, and it is simple to install on Windows. Users can work more productively with git thanks to a variety of Git clients with user-friendly interfaces.

After installing Git, you can clone an existing repository or start a brand-new one. You’ll need the git repository’s URL in order to clone it. Utilize the git init command to start a fresh git repository.

You can add files and make modifications after you have a git repository. Use the git add command, for example, to add a file to a git repository. Use the git commit command to submit changes.

Git is a great tool, but if you’re not comfortable with the command line, it might be difficult to use. GitHub can help in this situation. GitHub is actually based on Git.

What is GitHub?

Git repositories are hosted on the internet by GitHub. Git is made more approachable by it, and it also offers coders a platform to collaborate on code. Additionally, GitHub makes it simple for other people to add to projects. Additionally, it features a strong API that enables developers to incorporate GitHub into their own workflows and apps.

Both a premium and a free subscription are provided by GitHub. Users can build public repositories with a free subscription. Everyone has access to and can fork or clone public repositories. (A fork is a unique duplicate of the created Git repository. In contrast, a clone makes a linked copy that stays in sync with the target repository.) Private content requires paid subscription repositories. Private repositories are only visible to users who have been given access by the repository owner.

Among the tools available on GitHub are task management, project management, and bug tracking. GitHub offers a platform for developers to publish code snippets, problems, and documentation in addition to Git repositories. Additionally, developers can utilize GitHub to monitor the advancement of their projects.

Because of its widespread use, GitHub has become the world’s largest source code host. 200 million repositories and more than 80 million users comprise GitHub as of 2022.

What distinguishes GitHub from Git, then? Let’s look more closely.

Git vs GitHub: What’s the Difference?

Developers can keep track of changes to their code using the version control system Git. Git repositories are hosted on the internet by GitHub. Simply said, you cannot use GitHub without Git, but you can use Git without GitHub. For more details on the differences between the two, pay attention to the following example.

Which should you use:Git or GitHub?

Depending on your needs, there is no one right answer. Git is a wonderful option if you’re working on a personal project or don’t require the features of GitHub. However, GitHub is a superior option if you’re working on a project with others. It is the greatest platform for cooperation because of its powerful features and user-friendly design.

Your code is accessible from any computer using Git and GitHub. For instance, if your local machine were to be stolen or damaged, all of your code would be lost with no means to get it back. However, you never have to worry about losing your code if you keep it on GitHub, a cloud-based service.

When working on any software project, Git and GitHub are both excellent resources to keep in mind. Do consider all the advantages and disadvantages of each option before deciding which one suits you and your project the absolute best. That’s it for today! until next time, ciao!