Git & GitHub: A Beginner's Guide Using Git Bash (Hands-on Tutorial)
Introduction Version control is an essential skill for every developer. Whether you're working individually or collaborating with a team, Git helps you track changes in your code, while GitHub allows you to store and share your repositories online. In this blog, I'll walk through: Installing and using Git Bash Creating a local Git repository Making commits Connecting to GitHub Pushing code to GitHub Creating and working with branches Deleting files in another branch Pushing branch changes to GitHub This is a complete hands-on example with screenshots. -What is Git? Git is a distributed version control system that helps developers: Track file changes Maintain project history Collaborate with others Roll back to previous versions -What is GitHub? GitHub is a cloud platform that hosts Git repositories. It allows you to: Store projects online Collaborate with teams Create Pull Requests Manage branches Review code
Step 1: Create Your Project
Create a folder for your project.
Example:
mkdir Github
cd Github
Create some files.
Example:
touch dev{1..15}.txt
Verify:
ls
Step 2: Initialize Git Repository
Initialize Git.
git init
Check repository status.
git status
Step 3: Add Files
Stage all files.
git add .
Verify staging.
git status
Step 4: Commit Changes
Create your first commit.
git commit -m "satya"
You should see output showing that all files have been committed.
Step 5: Create a GitHub Repository
Go to GitHub.
Create a new repository.
Example:
gitsamp
Do not initialize it with README if your local repository already exists.
Step 6: Connect Local Repository to GitHub
Add the remote repository.
git remote add origin https://github.com/USERNAME/gitsamp.git
Rename the default branch.
git branch -M main
Verify.
git branch -a
Push the project.
git push -u origin main
The first push may ask you to authenticate using your browser.
Step 7: Verify on GitHub
Refresh your GitHub repository.
You should now see:
All project files
Commit history
Main branch
Step 8: Create a New Branch
Create a new branch.
git checkout -b usr2
Verify.
git branch
Current branch:
usr2
Step 9: Delete Some Files
Remove the first five files.
rm -rf dev{1..5}.txt
Verify.
ls
Check Git status.
git status
Git will display deleted files.
Step 10: Stage the Deletions
Stage all changes.
git add .
Check status again.
git status
Now the deleted files are ready to commit.
Step 11: Commit Changes
Commit the deletion.
git commit -m "Removed dev1 to dev5"
Git creates a new commit containing the file deletions.
Step 12: Push Branch to GitHub
Push the new branch.
git push -u origin usr2
GitHub creates a new remote branch.
Step 13: Verify Branch on GitHub
Open GitHub.
Switch from main to usr2.
You will notice:
Only dev6–dev15 remain.
The branch is ahead of main by one commit.
Useful Git Commands
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
git init |
Initialize repository |
git status |
Check repository status |
git add . |
Stage all files |
git commit -m "message" |
Create commit |
git log |
View commit history |
git branch |
List branches |
git checkout branch-name |
Switch branches |
git checkout -b branch-name |
Create and switch branch |
git branch -d branch-name |
Delete branch |
git remote -v |
Show remote repositories |
git push origin branch |
Push branch |
git pull origin branch |
Pull latest changes |
git clone repository-url |
Clone repository |
Common Errors
Remote already exists
git remote remove origin
git remote add origin <repository-url>
Authentication Failed
Sign in using your GitHub account or use a Personal Access Token (PAT) if prompted.
Nothing to Commit
git status
This means your working tree is clean and there are no changes to commit.
Conclusion
Git and GitHub are essential tools for every developer. In this tutorial, we:
Initialized a Git repository
Added and committed project files
Connected a local repository to GitHub
Pushed code to the
mainbranchCreated a new branch (
usr2)Deleted files in the new branch
Committed and pushed those changes
Verified everything on GitHub
Mastering these basic workflows will make it much easier to collaborate on software projects and manage your code with confidence.