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Guide · Open source

How to use introduction-to-github: a beginner GitHub walkthrough

Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

introduction-to-github is a free, guided exercise from GitHub Skills that teaches the basics of GitHub: repositories, branches, commits and pull requests. It is aimed at people who have never used GitHub, including students on their first day with version control. By the end of the course you will have worked through the full pull request flow and created a short Markdown file you can use as your profile README.

GitHubskills/introduction-to-github · ★ 10.8k · MIT

Quick start

  1. 1Copy the exercise. Click the Copy Exercise button in the README and create a public repository under your account.
  2. 2Wait and refresh. Give the helper about 20 seconds to prepare the first lesson, then refresh the page.
  3. 3Create a branch. Make a new branch in your repository for your changes.
  4. 4Commit a file. Add or edit a Markdown file on your branch and save it as a commit.
  5. 5Open a pull request. Ask to merge your branch into the main version of the repository.
  6. 6Merge the pull request. Complete the merge to finish the exercise.

What you need before you start

The exercise has no technical prerequisites beyond a GitHub account. The README describes it as a good introduction for your first day on GitHub.

  • A GitHub account
  • About one hour of time

Copy the exercise to your account

Use the Copy Exercise button in the README. It opens GitHub's new repository page with the exercise template preselected. The README recommends choosing your personal account (or an organization) as the owner and creating a public repository, because private repositories use Actions minutes.

After copying, give the helper about 20 seconds to prepare the first lesson, then refresh the page. If the lesson still isn't ready, check the Actions tab of the new repository. A running job may just need more time. A failed job means you should submit an issue.

  • Owner: your personal account or an organization
  • Visibility: public is recommended
  • If nothing appears after 20 seconds, check the Actions tab and refresh
git clone https://github.com/skills/introduction-to-github

Learn the four core ideas

The exercise introduces repositories, branches, commits and pull requests. A repository is the project folder that holds your files. A branch is a separate line of work so you can change things without touching the main version. A commit records a saved change to a file. A pull request asks for your branch to be merged back into the main version.

  • Repository: where your project lives
  • Branch: a separate line of work
  • Commit: a saved change with a record of what changed
  • Pull request: a request to merge your branch

Work through the four exercise steps

You will create a branch, commit a file, open a pull request and merge it. Each lesson is prepared by the automated helper, so refresh the page whenever a new lesson is expected.

  • Create a branch
  • Commit a file
  • Open a pull request
  • Merge your pull request

Finish with a profile README

The exercise ends with a short Markdown file you can use as your profile README. This is the public README shown on your GitHub profile page. GitHub's documentation on managing your profile README is linked from the course introduction.

What people use it for

  • Learning the basics of GitHub on your first day as a student
  • Practising the pull request workflow hands-on before using it on a team project
  • Creating a public GitHub profile README as a result of the course

Frequently asked questions

Is introduction to github free?

The exercise is published under the MIT licence, and the README links to the MIT License. You need a GitHub account to copy and run it. The README does not list any price.

What are the requirements for the introduction to github exercise?

The only prerequisite listed is a GitHub account. The exercise runs inside GitHub, so you do not install software for it. The README recommends a public repository.

Why is my introduction to github exercise not ready?

The README says the helper needs about 20 seconds to prepare the first lesson. If it is still not ready, check the Actions tab for a running job. If a job has failed, the README asks you to submit an issue.

Should I use a private repository for this exercise?

The README recommends a public repository, since private repositories will use Actions minutes. You can choose your personal account or an organization as the owner.

Is this good for experienced developers?

No. The README says the course covers basics only, so experienced developers who already know Git and GitHub will find it too basic. It also does not cover Actions, CI or code review in depth.

What are good alternatives to this exercise?

Comparable resources listed for this item are the Git documentation tutorial on git-scm.com, the GitHub Docs quickstart and Learn Git Branching. The Git documentation and Learn Git Branching are not run inside GitHub, so they may suit you if you need an offline or non-GitHub option.

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Our verdict

Use introduction-to-github if you are new to GitHub, a student on your first day, or want a hands-on pass through branches, commits and pull requests that ends with a profile README. Skip it if you already know Git and GitHub, need advanced topics like Actions or code review, or want a tutorial that works without GitHub.

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