GitHub Workshop

A Nevada Bioinformatics Core workshop on GitHub for beginners. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the basics of using GitHub in an academic setting, including version control, collaboration, and building personal portfolios. Over two days, we will cover essential GitHub skills through hands-on activities, culminating in creating a personal website using GitHub Pages.

Table of Contents

1. Workshop Description
2. Workshop Outline
   • Day 1: GitHub Basics
   • Day 2: Branching and Personal Websites
3. Learning Objectives
4. Prerequisites
5. Materials Needed
6. Resources

Workshop Description

This introductory workshop provides a step-by-step guide to using GitHub online and with the GitHub Desktop GUI. It is aimed at academics and students who want to learn how to collaborate on projects, host course materials, and build a professional online presence. Participants will gain practical skills for using GitHub as a version control tool and leave the workshop with a working personal GitHub.io website.

Workshop Outline

Day 1: GitHub Basics

1. Introduction to Version Control and GitHub

   • Overview of version control and Git.
   • GitHub: navigating, viewing files, and understanding a README.md file.
   • Key terms: repository, commit, clone, GitHub Pages.

2. Creating and Updating a Repository Online

   • What is a repository, and how to navigate one?
   • Hands-on activity: Setting up a repository.
   • Adding materials (README.md, codes, files) and making commits.

3. Cloning Repositories and Updating with GitHub Desktop GUI

   • Introduction to cloning and updating on your local computer.
   • Using Push and Pull
   • Hands-on: Clone your repository and work on your local computer.

4. Introduction to Collaboration

   • Collaborating with pull/push requests.
   • Hands-on activity: Collaborating with another participant and resolving a conflict.

5. Q&A and Wrap-Up for Day 1

   • Open floor for questions.
   • Discuss the next sessions' content.

Day 2: Branching and Personal Websites

1. Recap and Review

   • Quick recap of Day 1

2. Introduction to Branching

   • What is branching?
   • How to use branching.
   • Hands-on activity: Branching.

3. Creating a GitHub.io Personal Website

   • Introduction to GitHub Pages: turning repositories into static websites.
   • Demonstration of HTML and templates.
   • Hands-on activity: Publish a GitHub Pages website (username.github.io).

Learning Objectives

• Understand the purpose and basic concepts of version control using GitHub.
• Navigate the GitHub interface and create repositories.
• Collaborate on projects using cloning, pull/push, and conflict resolution.
• Set up a personal website using GitHub Pages.

Prerequisites

No prior experience with GitHub is required. During the workshop, participants will set up a basic GitHub account (free to create) and install GitHub Desktop (also free)for local cloning.

Materials Needed

• A computer with internet access.
• A GitHub account (sign up for free).
• GitHub Desktop installed for local GUI activities (Download here).

Resources

• GitHub Documentation: Official GitHub documentation for further learning.
• Pro Git Book: A comprehensive book on Git.
• GitHub Online Skills Tutorials: Hands-on GitHub skills training.