Git and Github are two of the most popular tools for version control and collaboration among developers. While the two names are frequently used interchangeably, they serve different purposes and have different applications.
In this blog post, we will compare Git with Github and offer an overview of other comparable programs, such as GitLab.
What is Git?
Git is a distributed version control system created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux. It allows developers to track changes to their code over time, making it easier to collaborate with others and manage code changes.
With Git, developers can create “commits,” which are snapshots of their code at a specific time. Git also allows developers to work on different branches of code simultaneously, making collaborating with other developers easier.
Git is the most common version control system among developers, according to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, with nearly 87% of respondents using it. The same survey also found that Git is the second most loved technology among developers, with over 73% of respondents expressing love for it.
What is Github?
Github is a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on Git repositories. It was founded in 2008 and was later acquired by Microsoft in 2018.
Github allows developers to store their Git repositories online, making it easier to collaborate with other developers, share code, and contribute to open-source projects.
Github provides a range of features to make collaboration more manageable, such as pull requests, issues, and wikis. It also provides integrations with other tools, such as continuous integration services, which allow developers to automate their workflow and improve code quality.
According to the Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2022, Github is the most popular platform for hosting code among developers, with over 41% of respondents using it. The same survey found that Github is the fourth most loved technology among developers, with over 49% of respondents expressing love for it.
What is the difference between Git and Github?
Git and Github are essential tools for software development, but understanding their differences and how to use them can be confusing. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between Git and Github, including using Git with Github, alternatives like GitLab, and the Github CLI.
- Git is a version control system, while Github is a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on Git repositories.
- GitLab is a popular Git alternative that provides a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on Git repositories, along with additional features like continuous integration and deployment tools.
- To use Git with Github, you need to install Git on your local machine, create a Github account and a repository, clone the repository to your local machine using Git, make changes using your preferred code editor, and use Git to commit and push changes back to the Github repository.
- Github provides features like pull requests that allow developers to review and merge changes to a repository.
- Git can be used without Github by hosting Git repositories on your own servers or using other web-based platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket.
- Github’s command-line interface is Github CLI, which provides a command-line interface for interacting with Github repositories and has additional features like creating pull requests and interacting with Github’s issue-tracking system.
Using Git with Github
Using Git with Github is a common practice among developers, as it allows them to take advantage of both tools’ functionalities. To use Git with Github, developers must first create a repository on Github and then clone it to their local machine using Git.
Once a repository is cloned, developers can use Git to make changes to their code, create new branches, and commit changes. They can then push these changes back to the Github repository using the “git push” command.
Github also provides a range of features to make collaboration more manageable, such as pull requests, which allow developers to review and merge changes to a repository.
According to a survey conducted by Jetbrains in 2022, 89% of developers use Git as their primary version control system, and 54% of developers use Github for collaboration. The same survey also found that 37% of developers use GitLab for collaboration.
Using Git without Github
While Github is a popular platform for collaborating on Git repositories, it is not the only option available. Developers can also use Git without Github by hosting their repositories on their own servers or using other web-based platforms like GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps.
Using Git without Github can be a good choice for developers who prefer to manage their own infrastructure or who have specific requirements that Github does not meet. However, it may require more setup and maintenance than using Github.
According to the same Jetbrains survey, 28% of developers use other collaboration platforms besides Github, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Azure DevOps.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Git vs Github is two essential tools for developers. While Git is a version control system that allows developers to track changes to their code over time, Github is a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on Git repositories.
Developers can learn more about version control systems with the help of an online course from The Test Tribe’s “Introduction to Git” course. Git is used for version control, while Github is used for collaboration.
Developers can use Git with Github by creating a Github account and repository, as explained in this article on version control systems. However, they can also use Git without Github by hosting their repositories on their own servers or using other web-based platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket. Regardless of which tools they choose, developers should prioritize version control and collaboration to improve their workflow and code quality.
FAQs
What is Git and Github used for?
Git is a version control system that allows developers to trace the evolution of their code. Github is a web-based platform for hosting and collaborating on Git repositories. Together, Git and Github are used to manage and collaborate on code, track changes, and improve workflow.
Is Git the same as Github?
No, Git and Github are not the same things. Github is a web-based platform for hosting and working on Git repositories. Git can be used without Github, but Github relies on Git for version control.
How do I use Git and Github?
To use Git and Github, you must first install Git on your local machine. Then, create a Github account and a repository on Github. Clone the repository to your local machine using Git, make changes to your code using your preferred code editor, and use Git to commit changes and push them back to the Github repository. You can also collaborate with other developers using Github’s features like pull requests and code reviews.
Do I need both Git and Github?
Technically, you can use Git without Github by hosting your Git repositories on your own servers or using other web-based platforms like GitLab or Bitbucket. However, Github provides a range of features that make collaboration and code management more accessible, so many developers choose to use both Git and Github.
Is Git connected to Github?
Yes, Git is connected to Github. Github relies on Git for version control, so to use Github, you first need to install Git on your local machine. When you clone a Github repository to your local machine, you use Git to manage the repository’s version control.
