What is Git & what is GitHub?

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What is Git?

Git was created by Linus Torvalds in 2005 to manage the development of the Linux kernel—a project so complex it required an entirely new approach to version control. What emerged was a distributed version control system that would fundamentally change how software development teams collaborate worldwide.

At its core, Git is a free, open-source version control system that runs locally on your machine, whether you're using Mac, PC, Linux, or any other operating system. It meticulously tracks every change made to your codebase, creating a comprehensive history of your project's evolution. Today, Git has become the de facto standard for source code management, used by millions of developers from solo freelancers to enterprise teams at Fortune 500 companies.

What Does Git Do?

Git functions as your project's memory bank, recording every modification you and your collaborators make to files over time. Unlike simple backup systems, Git stores both your project files and their complete change history locally on your computer, giving you immediate access to your project's entire evolution.

This historical record proves invaluable when you need to understand why certain decisions were made, identify when bugs were introduced, or revert to previous versions of your code. Rather than relying on your memory or manual documentation, Git automatically maintains a detailed audit trail of every addition, deletion, and modification. This capability becomes essential when working on complex projects where a single misstep could compromise weeks of work.

How Does Git Track Changes?

Git's tracking system operates with remarkable precision, monitoring changes at the character level rather than simply noting file modification timestamps. This granular approach means Git can detect when you add a single line of code, delete a function, create new files, or remove entire directories.

The sophisticated tracking mechanism allows Git to intelligently merge changes from multiple contributors working on the same file simultaneously. For example, if you modify lines 10-15 while a colleague changes lines 50-60 in the same file, Git can seamlessly combine both sets of changes without conflict. This change data is stored in a hidden .git folder at your project's root directory, creating a local database of your project's complete history.

What is GitHub and How Do We Collaborate with Git?

Understanding Git's local capabilities naturally leads to the question of collaboration—and this is where GitHub enters the picture. GitHub, acquired by Microsoft in 2018 for $7.5 billion, serves as the world's largest host of Git repositories, providing a cloud-based platform where teams can store, share, and collaborate on code.

GitHub transforms Git from a personal tool into a collaboration powerhouse by providing a centralized location where developers can upload their local changes and access contributions from others. Beyond simple file hosting, GitHub offers additional features like issue tracking, project management tools, code review workflows, and automated testing pipelines that have made it indispensable to modern software development teams.

How Does GitHub Work?

The GitHub workflow revolves around the fundamental Git operations of pushing and pulling changes. When you complete work locally, you "push" your changes to the shared GitHub repository, making them available to your team. Conversely, you "pull" changes that others have pushed, automatically applying their modifications to your local files.

This distributed approach offers significant advantages over traditional centralized systems. Git's focus on tracking changes rather than entire files means transfers are remarkably efficient—only the actual modifications need to be synchronized, not complete files. When a colleague fixes a bug by changing three lines in a thousand-line file, you download only those three lines of changes, not the entire file. This efficiency becomes increasingly valuable as projects grow in size and complexity, enabling teams to collaborate seamlessly even on massive codebases with extensive histories.

Are There Alternatives to GitHub?

While GitHub dominates the market with over 100 million repositories as of 2026, several robust alternatives serve different organizational needs and preferences.

GitLab offers a comprehensive DevOps platform with integrated CI/CD capabilities and can be self-hosted for organizations requiring complete control over their code repositories. Bitbucket, developed by Atlassian, integrates seamlessly with other Atlassian tools like Jira and Confluence, making it attractive for teams already using that ecosystem. Azure DevOps provides Microsoft's enterprise-focused alternative with tight integration into the Microsoft development stack.

The beauty of Git's open-source nature means these platforms are essentially interchangeable—your Git skills and repositories can move between services with minimal friction. The choice often comes down to specific feature requirements, pricing models, integration needs, and organizational preferences rather than fundamental technical differences.

How Do I Use Git? Command Line Vs. Desktop GUI Apps

Git offers flexibility in how you interact with it, accommodating both command-line enthusiasts and those who prefer graphical interfaces. The original Git experience involves using terminal commands, which provide complete access to Git's full feature set and often prove more efficient for complex operations once mastered.

However, numerous graphical applications have emerged to make Git more accessible. Visual Studio Code, Microsoft's popular free editor, offers excellent built-in Git integration that handles most common operations through an intuitive interface. Other specialized Git clients like GitKraken, Sourcetree, and GitHub Desktop provide visual representations of your project history, making it easier to understand complex branching structures and merge operations.

A particularly innovative feature launched by GitHub and Microsoft allows you to press the period (.) key while viewing any GitHub repository to instantly open a web-based version of Visual Studio Code. This browser-based editor enables immediate code editing and committing without installing software or cloning repositories locally—a powerful demonstration of how Git tooling continues to evolve to meet modern development workflows.

Coding Classes & Certificate Programs

Understanding Git and GitHub represents just the beginning of your journey into professional software development. These tools form the foundation that enables everything from solo projects to enterprise-scale applications.

If you're currently enrolled in one of our programs, we look forward to seeing you apply these version control concepts in your upcoming projects. For those considering a career transition into technology, our comprehensive coding classes provide hands-on experience with Git alongside core programming skills. Whether you're interested in web development, Python programming, or data science, our certificate programs emphasize real-world collaboration tools that you'll use throughout your professional career. Learn through live online instruction or join us in-person in New York City.