Git and GitHub are powerful tools for improving your development workflow. But while they’re often mentioned interchangeably, the reality is that Git and GitHub have very different roles.
Here, we’ll break down what sets them apart, explore how they work together, and why they both have an important role to play.
What is Git?
Git is a Version Control System (VCS) that helps you track changes to your code over time. It’s free and open-source, so you can use it at no cost and even contribute to its development.
Features of Git
Git makes managing your code and working as a team easier with features like:
1. Tracks every change
With Git, every modification to your code is recorded. Anytime a bug or other issue appears, you can rewind to a previous version and see exactly what changed.
2. Encourages safe experimentation
If you ever want to test a new feature but don’t want to mess up the main project, Git lets you create different branches (separate workspaces) where you can experiment freely.
Once you’re happy with the changes, you can merge them back into the main codebase without disrupting ongoing work.
3. Supports offline work
Unlike cloud-based tools, Git operates locally on your machine. This means you can keep using it even without an internet connection. Any changes you make will sync once you’re back online.
4. Simplifies collaboration
Multiple team members can work on the same Git project at the same time without overwriting each other’s work. And when used with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, Git becomes a powerhouse for managing inputs from teams across the globe.
5. Improves code quality
Teams in separate locations can review each other’s code before it’s merged into the main project. The result? Higher quality code, far fewer errors, easier debugging, and more stable software releases.
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a cloud-based platform (built on top of Git) that lets you store, manage, and collaborate on code repositories. It’s essentially a central hub to share projects, work together, and track changes in real-time.
Key features of GitHub
Here’s how GitHub keeps management and collaboration running smoothly:
1. Repository hosting
GitHub stores your Git repositories in the cloud, so you can access them from anywhere—anytime. This makes it simple for teams to collaborate on the same project without complicated setups.
2. Collaboration tools
With features like pull requests, issue tracking, and discussions, GitHub makes it easy for teams to manage code changes, track bugs, and communicate—all in one place.
3. Integrations
GitHub works with tools like CI/CD pipelines and project management apps to help automate tasks and keep everything running as it should.
4. Open-source community
As the home to millions of open-source projects, GitHub offers the opportunity to contribute to (or learn from) projects around the world.
5. Free and paid plans
GitHub offers a generous free plan, perfect for individuals or small teams. For more storage and advanced tools like Codespaces, you can always upgrade to a paid plan.
6. Marketplace
From testing to deployment, GitHub’s Marketplace has tons of third-party tools to improve your development workflow.
Git vs GitHub: A quick overview
| Feature | Git | GitHub |
| Definition | Version control system | Cloud-based Git repository hosting service |
| Usage | Manages code locally | Facilitates collaboration and remote access |
| Installation | Installed on your computer | Accessed via a web browser or app |
| Core functionality | Tracks code changes | Hosts repositories and provides collaboration tools |
| Offline access | Fully functional offline | Requires internet for repository access |
When to use Git vs when to use GitHub
Not sure when to use Git or GitHub? Here’s a quick guide:
- Git: Use Git when you need to manage versions of your code locally, especially if you’re working alone or don’t have internet access.
- GitHub: Use GitHub to collaborate with others, manage your projects online, and share your code with the community.
How Git and GitHub work together
Now that we understand the difference between Git and GitHub, let’s look at how you can use them together:
- Local development with Git: Write and update the code on your computer, and Git will track any changes or different versions.
- Push to GitHub: When you’re ready, push your changes to a GitHub repository so they’re accessible to others.
- Collaborate on GitHub: Your team can review your code, discuss issues, and merge changes directly on GitHub.
- Pull updates: To stay in sync with the team, pull the latest changes from GitHub to update your local code.
Common Git commands (and what they mean)
Not sure where to start? Here are some basic Git commands you can use immediately:
Basics commands
git init: Creates a new Git repository in your current foldergit clone [url]: Makes a copy of an existing repository from a remote URLgit status: Shows the current status of your files and what’s ready to be committedgit add [file/folder]: Prepares files or folders for the next commitgit commit -m "message": Saves your changes with a message describing what you’ve done
Branching and merging
git branch: Lists all the branches in your repositorygit branch [branch-name]: Creates a new branchgit checkout [branch-name]: Switches to the specified branchgit merge [branch-name]: Merges the specified branch into your current branch
Remote repositories
git remote add [name] [url]: Adds a new remote repositorygit fetch: Fetches changes from a remote repository without merging themgit pull: Fetches and merges changes from a remote repositorygit push: Pushes your local changes to a remote repository
Undoing changes
git reset [file]: Unstages a file but keeps your changes.git checkout -- [file]: Reverts changes in your working directory back to the last committed stategit revert [commit-id]: Reverts a specific commit by creating a new commit that undoes the changes
Viewing history
git log: Shows the full commit historygit log --oneline: Displays a condensed version of the commit historygit diff: Compares the changes between your working directory and the staging area
Are Git and GitHub data automatically backed up?
No, Git and GitHub don’t automatically back up your data. They operate under The Shared Responsibility Model, where Git handles the version control of your code locally on your machine, and GitHub stores and hosts your repositories in the cloud.
But it’s your responsibility to manage and protect your data. To ensure the safety of your code and avoid losing important work, it’s essential to set up your own backup process or use third-party backup tools.
Key takeaway
Git and GitHub are excellent tools for developers. Git lets you track and manage your code’s history, while GitHub makes it easy to work with others and share your projects.
They each play a role in keeping your workflow and your team on the same page. Remember, it’s important to back up your data to prevent losing your hard work.
Protect your data with BackupLABS
BackupLABS offers automated backups every 24 hours, keeping your Git and GitHub data safe.
The simple dashboard lets you track your backups in real-time, and your data is encrypted for added security. If something goes wrong, you can easily restore your data or roll back to previous versions.
