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211 changes: 211 additions & 0 deletions CHEAT_SHEET.md
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# GitHub Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

A handy reference guide for common GitHub operations and commands.

## 🌐 GitHub Web Interface

### Creating a New Repository
1. Click the **+** icon in the top right corner
2. Select **New repository**
3. Fill in repository name and description
4. Choose public or private
5. Click **Create repository**

### Creating a Branch
1. Click the branch dropdown (shows "main" by default)
2. Type your new branch name
3. Click **Create branch**

### Making Changes Through Web Interface
1. Navigate to the file you want to edit
2. Click the pencil icon (✏️) to edit
3. Make your changes
4. Scroll down to the commit section
5. Add a commit message
6. Click **Commit changes**

### Opening a Pull Request
1. Click **Pull requests** tab
2. Click **New pull request**
3. Select the branch with your changes
4. Click **Create pull request**
5. Add a title and description
6. Click **Create pull request**

### Merging a Pull Request
1. Open the pull request
2. Review the changes
3. Click **Merge pull request**
4. Click **Confirm merge**
5. Optionally delete the branch

## 💻 Git Command Line Basics

### Setup and Configuration
```bash
# Set your name
git config --global user.name "Your Name"

# Set your email
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

# Check your settings
git config --list
```

### Starting a Repository
```bash
# Initialize a new repository
git init

# Clone an existing repository
git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
```

### Basic Workflow
```bash
# Check status of your files
git status

# Add files to staging area
git add filename.txt # Add specific file
git add . # Add all changed files

# Commit your changes
git commit -m "Your commit message"

# Push changes to GitHub
git push origin main
```

### Branching
```bash
# Create a new branch
git branch branch-name

# Switch to a branch
git checkout branch-name

# Create and switch to new branch (shortcut)
git checkout -b branch-name

# List all branches
git branch

# Delete a branch
git branch -d branch-name
```

### Updating and Syncing
```bash
# Get latest changes from GitHub
git pull origin main

# Fetch changes without merging
git fetch origin

# Merge a branch into current branch
git merge branch-name
```

### Viewing History
```bash
# View commit history
git log

# View compact history
git log --oneline

# View changes in files
git diff

# View changes for a specific file
git diff filename.txt
```

## 🔑 Key Concepts

### The Git Workflow
1. **Modify** files in your working directory
2. **Stage** changes you want to commit (`git add`)
3. **Commit** staged changes (`git commit`)
4. **Push** commits to GitHub (`git push`)

### Branch Strategy
- **main/master**: The stable, production-ready code
- **feature branches**: Create these for new features or changes
- **Always branch**: Never work directly on main for new changes

### Commit Message Best Practices
- Use present tense ("Add feature" not "Added feature")
- Keep first line under 50 characters
- Be descriptive but concise
- Example: "Fix login button alignment on mobile"

## 📝 Common Terms

| Term | Description |
|------|-------------|
| **Repository** | A project folder tracked by Git |
| **Clone** | Download a copy of a repository |
| **Fork** | Create your own copy of someone else's repository |
| **Commit** | Save a snapshot of your changes |
| **Push** | Upload your commits to GitHub |
| **Pull** | Download and merge changes from GitHub |
| **Branch** | A separate line of development |
| **Merge** | Combine changes from different branches |
| **Pull Request** | Propose changes to be merged |
| **Remote** | A version of your repository hosted elsewhere (like GitHub) |
| **Origin** | The default name for your remote repository |

## 🆘 Common Issues and Solutions

### Problem: Changes not showing on GitHub
**Solution**: Make sure you've committed AND pushed your changes
```bash
git add .
git commit -m "Your message"
git push origin main
```

### Problem: Merge conflict
**Solution**:
1. Open the conflicting files
2. Look for conflict markers (`<<<<<<<`, `=======`, `>>>>>>>`)
3. Edit to keep the correct version
4. Remove the conflict markers
5. Commit the resolved files

### Problem: Want to undo last commit (not pushed yet)
**Solution**:
```bash
git reset HEAD~1 # Keeps changes but undoes commit
```

### Problem: Accidentally committed to wrong branch
**Solution**:
```bash
git stash # Save your changes
git checkout correct-branch
git stash pop # Apply your changes
```

## 🎯 Tips for Success

1. **Commit often**: Small, frequent commits are better than large ones
2. **Write good commit messages**: Your future self will thank you
3. **Pull before you push**: Always get the latest changes first
4. **Branch for features**: Keep your main branch clean
5. **Review before committing**: Use `git status` and `git diff`
6. **Use .gitignore**: Don't commit unnecessary files

## 📚 Learn More

- [GitHub Documentation](https://docs.github.com)
- [Pro Git Book](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2) - Free and comprehensive
- [GitHub Learning Lab](https://lab.github.com)
- [Git Cheat Sheet (PDF)](https://education.github.com/git-cheat-sheet-education.pdf)

---

**Remember**: Practice makes perfect! The more you use Git and GitHub, the more natural it becomes. 🚀
85 changes: 85 additions & 0 deletions GETTING_STARTED.md
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# Getting Started with GitHub

Welcome! This guide will help you understand the basics of GitHub and get you started on your learning journey.

## What is GitHub?

GitHub is a web-based platform where developers store, share, and collaborate on code. Think of it as a social network for programmers, where you can:
- Store your code projects
- Track changes to your code over time
- Collaborate with others
- Share your work with the world

## Key Concepts for Beginners

### 1. **Repository (Repo)**
A repository is like a folder for your project. It contains all your project files and the history of changes made to them.

### 2. **Git**
Git is the version control system that powers GitHub. It helps you track changes to your files over time.

### 3. **Commit**
A commit is like a snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. Think of it as saving your progress in a video game.

### 4. **Branch**
A branch is a separate version of your repository. You can make changes on a branch without affecting the main version of your project.

### 5. **Pull Request (PR)**
A pull request is how you propose changes to a project. It's like saying "Hey, I made some improvements. Would you like to include them?"

### 6. **Merge**
Merging is when you combine changes from one branch into another, usually from your working branch into the main branch.

## Your First Steps on GitHub

If you're new to GitHub, here's what you should do:

1. **Create a GitHub Account**: Go to [github.com](https://github.com) and sign up
2. **Complete This Course**: This repository is an interactive course that will teach you the basics
3. **Follow the README**: The main README.md file has step-by-step instructions
4. **Practice**: The best way to learn is by doing!

## How This Course Works

This repository uses GitHub Actions to automatically guide you through the learning process:

1. You'll start by creating a branch
2. Then you'll make a commit
3. Next, you'll open a pull request
4. Finally, you'll merge your changes

Each step builds on the previous one, and the repository will automatically update with new instructions as you progress.

## Common GitHub Terms

| Term | Definition |
|------|------------|
| **Fork** | Creating your own copy of someone else's repository |
| **Clone** | Downloading a repository to your computer |
| **Push** | Sending your changes to GitHub |
| **Pull** | Getting the latest changes from GitHub |
| **Main/Master** | The primary branch of a repository |
| **README** | A file that explains what your project is about |

## Tips for Success

✅ **Read carefully**: Each step has detailed instructions
✅ **Take your time**: There's no rush - learn at your own pace
✅ **Ask questions**: If you're stuck, check GitHub's documentation or community forums
✅ **Practice regularly**: The more you use GitHub, the more comfortable you'll become
✅ **Don't be afraid to experiment**: You can't really break anything in your own repositories

## Helpful Resources

- [GitHub Docs](https://docs.github.com): Official GitHub documentation
- [Git Handbook](https://guides.github.com/introduction/git-handbook/): Introduction to Git
- [GitHub Learning Lab](https://lab.github.com): More interactive courses
- [GitHub Community](https://github.community): Ask questions and get help

## Ready to Start?

Head back to the main [README.md](README.md) file to begin your GitHub learning journey!

---

**Remember**: Everyone was a beginner once. Take it one step at a time, and you'll be comfortable with GitHub in no time! 🚀
22 changes: 22 additions & 0 deletions README.md
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_Get started using GitHub in less than an hour._

## 📖 Quick Navigation

**New to GitHub?** Start here:
- 📘 [Getting Started Guide](GETTING_STARTED.md) - Learn the basics and key concepts
- 📋 [Quick Reference Cheat Sheet](CHEAT_SHEET.md) - Handy commands and operations
- 🔧 [Troubleshooting Guide](TROUBLESHOOTING.md) - Solutions to common problems

**Ready to learn?** Follow the course below!

</header>

<!--
Expand All @@ -29,6 +38,10 @@ People use GitHub to build some of the most advanced technologies in the world.
- **Prerequisites**: None. This course is a great introduction for your first day on GitHub.
- **How long**: This course takes less than one hour to complete.

### 🆕 New to GitHub?

If this is your first time using GitHub, we recommend starting with our [Getting Started Guide](GETTING_STARTED.md) to familiarize yourself with key concepts before beginning the course.

In this course, you will:

1. Create a branch
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -58,6 +71,15 @@ In this course, you will:
- Scroll down and click the **Create repository** button at the bottom of the form.
3. After your new repository is created, wait about 20 seconds, then refresh the page. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the new repository's README.

## 📚 Additional Learning Resources

Once you complete this course, continue your GitHub journey with these resources:

- **[Getting Started Guide](GETTING_STARTED.md)**: Quick reference for GitHub concepts and terminology
- **[GitHub Docs](https://docs.github.com)**: Official documentation for all GitHub features
- **[Git Handbook](https://guides.github.com/introduction/git-handbook/)**: Learn the fundamentals of Git
- **[GitHub Skills](https://skills.github.com)**: More interactive courses to expand your knowledge

<footer>

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