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What is Git & GitHub? The Only Beginner Guide You Need (2025 Edition)

What is GIT & GITHUB? The Only Beginner Guide You Need (2025 Edition)
Full Stack Development
Full Stack Development

What is Git & GitHub? The Only Beginner Guide You Need (2025 Edition)

29/10/2025
Egmore, Chennai
7 Min Read
385

Table of Contents

  • 1.
  • 2.
  • 3.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
  • 9.
  • 9.1
  • 9.2
  • 9.3
  • 9.4
  • 9.5
  • 10.

Introduction

If you’re beginning your journey in Full Stack Development, MERN stack, or AI-powered development, the first question you must understand is “What is Git & GitHub?” These two tools are essential for coding, collaboration, version control, and building a professional developer portfolio. Mastering Git and GitHub early helps beginners track code changes, work smoothly with teams, and showcase real projects that impress recruiters in 2025.

This guide explains everything in simple terms perfect for absolute beginners.

1. What is Git?

Git is a version control system that tracks changes in your code.

Think of Git like a time machine for developers:

  • Made a mistake? Go back to an earlier version.
  • Added a new feature? Save it safely.
  • Working in a team? Avoid overwriting each other’s work.

With Git, you can:

Save versions of your code
Track updates
Undo mistakes
Work on new features safely
Collaborate with others

In short:
Git helps you manage your project’s history and avoid losing code.

2. What is GitHub?

GitHub is a cloud platform where you store your Git repositories online.

Git = Tool
GitHub = Online storage + collaboration platform

GitHub lets you:

  • Store your code
  • Share it with others
  • Collaborate as a team
  • Showcase your work publicly
  • Build your developer portfolio

In short:
GitHub is like social media for developers but for code.

GIT vs GITHUB: Know the difference

3. Why Git & GitHub Matter for Students (2025)

  • Companies check your GitHub before your resume.
  • Recruiters prefer candidates with real projects.
  • GitHub shows your skills: MERN, Python, AI tools, etc.
  • AI-powered tools like Copilot require GitHub.
  • You can build a strong coding portfolio.

If you want a developer job in 2025, GitHub is non-negotiable.

4. Common Git Commands

Here are the must-know Git commands for every fresher.

  • Initialize Git

git init

Starts Git in your project.

  • Check file status

git status

  • Add files to staging

git add .

  • Commit changes

git commit -m “Your message”

  • Connect local project to GitHub

git remote add origin <repository-url>

  • Push code to GitHub

git push -u origin main

  • Pull latest changes

git pull

  • Clone someone’s project

git clone <repo-url>

  • Check commit history

git log

These commands alone are enough for a beginner to manage projects confidently.

5. What is Branching?

A branch is a separate workspace where you build features without touching the main project.

Example:

  • Main branch = stable code
  • New feature branch = experiment safely

Why branches are useful:

  • You can work without breaking the main project
  • Multiple people can code at the same time
  • Easier to test new features
  • Easy to merge changes

Common Branch Commands:

  • Create branch

git branch new-feature

  • Switch to branch

git checkout new-feature

  • Create + switch

git checkout -b new-feature

  • Merge branch

git merge new-feature

6. How to Use GitHub as Your Portfolio (2025 Strategy)

GitHub is your new resume.
Top companies check your GitHub activity before interviews.

Here’s how to make it strong:

1. Upload ALL your projects

  • MERN apps
  • React components
  • Practice projects
  • Assignments
  • AI-powered projects
  • APIs you build

2. Add README files

Each project must include:

  • Project description
  • Features
  • Tech stack
  • Screenshots
  • Live link
  • Installation steps

3. Create pinned repositories

Pin your best 6 projects on your GitHub profile:

  • E-commerce app
  • Job portal
  • Social media clone
  • Portfolio website
  • Authentication system
  • Dashboard application

4. Make consistent contributions

Even 3–4 commits per week looks great to employers.

5. Add GitHub to your Resume & LinkedIn

A strong GitHub profile increases hiring chances by 200%.

7. Why Git & GitHub Are Important for AI-Powered Full Stack Developers

AI tools like:

  • GitHub Copilot
  • Cursor AI
  • ChatGPT
  • Replit AI

all work seamlessly with Git repositories.

AI can:

  • Write commit messages
  • Fix merge conflicts
  • Explain Git errors
  • Generate README files
  • Help in version control workflows

This makes you a highly efficient developer.

8. Tools Students Should Use with GitHub

GitHub is more than just a place to store code. It is a complete ecosystem of tools that help students build, manage, and showcase real-world projects. If you’re learning Full Stack Development or AI-Powered Full Stack Development, these GitHub tools will make your learning journey smoother, faster, and more professional.

Below is a detailed, yet beginner-friendly guide to the 5 most important GitHub tools students should use.

5 GITHUB Tools Students Must Use un 2025

1. GitHub Desktop

Many beginners struggle with Git commands in the terminal. That’s where GitHub Desktop helps.

GitHub Desktop is a visual Git application that lets you use Git features without typing commands.
Instead of using the terminal, you can manage your repositories with simple buttons and menus.

Why Students Need It:

  • It removes the fear of using the terminal
  • Helps beginners understand Git concepts visually
  • Easier to stage, commit, push, and pull code
  • Helps avoid common beginner mistakes
  • Perfect for people coming from non-technical backgrounds

What You Can Do with GitHub Desktop:

  • Create new repositories
  • Clone existing GitHub repositories
  • Commit code with a visual UI
  • Push code to GitHub
  • Switch between branches
  • View changes line-by-line
  • Resolve merge conflicts visually

Best Use Case for Students:

You can manage all your Git workflow without remembering commands.
It’s perfect for your early learning phase and pairs well with VS Code.

2. VS Code Git Integration: The Most Powerful Workflow for Developers

Most developers use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as their main editor.
VS Code comes with built-in Git features, making it extremely beginner friendly.

What is VS Code Git Integration?

It is a feature inside VS Code that allows you to:

  • Stage changes
  • Commit code
  • Switch branches
  • View file differences
  • Resolve merge conflicts
    All without leaving the editor.

Why Students Need It:

  • Keeps everything inside one tool
  • No switching between terminal and editor
  • Develop + push code seamlessly
  • Best for MERN stack and full stack development
  • Works beautifully with GitHub and Copilot

Key Features:

  • One-click commit
  • One-click push/pull
  • Visual branch management
  • Inline diff viewer
  • Built-in merge conflict tools
  • Extensions to enhance Git usage

Example Workflow:

  • Write code in VS Code
  • Save your file
  • Open Git panel
  • Stage changes → Commit
  • Push to GitHub

It’s the fastest and most practical workflow for all developers.

3. GitHub Actions: CI/CD Made Simple

In 2025, companies expect developers to understand basic CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment).
GitHub Actions makes this possible even for beginners.

What is GitHub Actions?

GitHub Actions lets you automate tasks in your GitHub repository.
You can create workflows that run automatically whenever you push code.

Why Students Need It:

Companies love developers who understand automation.
Without writing complicated scripts, GitHub Actions helps you learn:

  • How modern engineering teams work
  • How projects get tested and deployed automatically
  • How to use DevOps tools

This skill instantly makes you stand out as a job seeker.

What You Can Automate:

  • Auto-run tests after each commit
  • Auto-deploy your project to cloud platforms
  • Auto-build your React/Node apps
  • Auto-check your code quality
  • Auto-generate documentation

Example Scenario:

You create a MERN project.
Whenever you push code, GitHub Actions can automatically:

  • Test your code
  • Build the app
  • Deploy it to Render or Vercel

This is exactly how real-world CI/CD pipelines work.

4. GitHub Pages: Free Hosting for Your Portfolio & Projects

One of the biggest advantages of GitHub is the ability to host static websites for free.

What is GitHub Pages?

GitHub Pages allows you to host:

  • Portfolio websites
  • Front-end projects
  • Static HTML/CSS/JS websites
  • Documentation pages directly from your GitHub repository.

Why Students Need It:

Because every student needs a portfolio.
GitHub Pages lets you publish your website in minutes and show it to recruiters.

Benefits for Students:

  • 100% free
  • Fast and reliable
  • Easy to set up
  • Perfect for portfolios
  • Great for React/Next.js static builds

Example Uses:

  • Your resume website
  • A portfolio showcasing your projects
  • A landing page you built
  • Documentation for your final-year project

How It Works:

  • Upload your code to GitHub
  • Enable GitHub Pages
  • Your website goes live instantly
  • Share the link on your resume and LinkedIn

This is one of the best tools for freshers to shine in job applications.

5. Copilot Chat: AI-Powered Coding Assistant

AI is transforming software development, and GitHub’s own AI tool Copilot Chat is one of the most powerful tools available today.

What is Copilot Chat?

Copilot Chat is an AI assistant built inside VS Code.
It helps you write code faster, fix errors, and understand concepts with simple prompts.

Why Students Need It:

  • Makes learning coding much easier
  • Helps you debug errors instantly
  • Explains code in simple English
  • Generates components, functions, and entire modules
  • Helps you learn MERN stack faster
  • Works directly with your GitHub repositories

What Copilot Chat Can Do:

  • Generate React components
  • Create API routes in Node.js
  • Explain any code block
  • Fix bugs
  • Suggest optimizationsWrite documentation
  • Build complex logic
  • Help you follow best practices

Example Prompt:

“Create a React login form using Tailwind and connect it to a Node.js API.”

Copilot Chat instantly generates working code and explains each step.

Why Copilot Chat is a Superpower:

It acts like a senior developer sitting next to you guiding you, correcting you, and building with you.

9. Final Summary

  • Git = Tracks your code changes
  • GitHub = Stores and showcases your projects
  • Together = Powerful development + professional portfolio

If you want to become a Full Stack Developer or AI-Powered Full Stack Developer, Git & GitHub are must-learn skills.

Learn Git, GitHub & Full Stack Development at WHY TAP

Become a Job-Ready Developer

Master Git, GitHub, MERN, and AI-powered coding tools with WHY TAP’s 6-month full stack program.

Build a Standout GitHub Portfolio

Work on 10+ real-world projects and showcase them on GitHub to impress recruiters.

Learn Faster with AI-Assisted Coding

WHY TAP trains you to use Copilot, Cursor, and ChatGPT along with GitHub to accelerate your development journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Git?
2. What is GitHub?
3. Do I need GitHub as a student in 2025?
4. What is a Git branch?
5. How can GitHub act as my portfolio?
6. Why are Git & GitHub important for AI-powered developers?
7. What GitHub tools should beginners use?
8. Can I host my portfolio on GitHub for free?
9. Is GitHub necessary for getting a developer job?
10. Is Git and GitHub difficult for beginners?
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