Git vs GitHub
Git and GitHub are often confused, although they serve different needs. Git provides version control and tracks changes to source code. GitHub hosts Git repositories and facilitates collaboration. This article explains their features, differences, and how to use them together effectively.
Git and GitHub, their differences and possible applications
In modern development projects, Git and GitHub have become essential tools. They share a common goal: to improve source code change control and structure developers' work. However, their roles clearly differ.
Git is a version control tool. It allows precise tracking of every change made to the source code, maintaining a reliable history and reverting to a previous version if necessary. GitHub, on the other hand, is an online platform that hosts Git repositories and adds collaborative features around this version control.
This distinction is central to any comparison of git vs github or git vs github difference. Git operates at the local level, while GitHub serves as a central point for sharing, organizing, and governing source code.
What is Git and what is it used for?
Git is a distributed version control system. It allows recording, tracking, and comparing changes made to a project. Each change is stored as a commit, ensuring complete traceability of the project's evolution.
One of the major advantages of Git lies in its local operation. Developers can work on their source code, create intermediate versions, and test features without relying on a network connection. This autonomy enhances productivity and work security.
Git relies on several key features:
- precise tracking of changes
- management of successive versions
- creation of branches to isolate features
- reverting to a stable version in case of error
The branching system allows for the development of a new feature or the fixing of a bug without impacting the main version of the project. Once the changes are validated, they can be merged in a controlled manner.
Git is thus a fundamental tool for ensuring source code control, limiting errors, and structuring development cycles, whether for an individual project, collaborative work, or in a training context. Its use is particularly suited to projects deployed on solutions like web hosting or shared hosting, where clear management of changes is essential.
What is GitHub and what is it used for?
GitHub is an online platform dedicated to hosting Git repositories. It extends Git's functionalities by adding collaboration, management, and tracking tools around the source code.
A GitHub repository centralizes:
- The source code and its versions
- The history of changes
- The contributions of developers
- The project documentation
Among the key features of GitHub are pull requests. They allow for proposing changes, submitting them for review, and integrating them in a controlled manner into the main repository. This mechanism enhances code quality and facilitates collective control of changes.
GitHub also offers an issue system to track bugs, enhancements, and tasks. These features are widely used in professional teams as well as in training environments, where they help to learn best practices for collaboration.
In summary, GitHub does not replace Git. It relies on Git to provide a structured, collaborative, and visible framework around repositories and versions.
Why use Git and GitHub together?
Using Git and GitHub together allows for fine-grained version control combined with advanced collaborative features. Git manages changes locally, while GitHub centralises and organises team work.
A common workflow relies on the following steps:
- A developer works locally with Git
- They create multiple versions through commits
- They push their changes to a GitHub repository
- The changes are reviewed and validated
- The final version is integrated into the project
This approach improves source code control at multiple levels. This organisation is also widely used for web and application projects, particularly when deploying applications on a java hosting or in testing and training environments, where separating functionalities and tracking changes facilitate maintenance.
Traceability of changes
Each change is associated with a commit, a branch, and often a discussion. It becomes easy to identify the source of a bug or regression.
Quality and code control
GitHub's code review features enhance overall quality. Developers share the responsibility for controlling changes.
Learning and training
In a training context, Git and GitHub help to concretely understand version management, collaborative work, and the organisation of a source code repository.
Possible errors when using Git and GitHub
Certain errors frequently occur when using Git and GitHub.
Confusing Git and GitHub is one of the most common mistakes. Git provides version control and change tracking, while GitHub hosts the repository and offers collaborative features.
Working directly on the main branch is another mistake. Without dedicated branches, change control becomes more complex and the risk of errors increases.
Inaccurate commit messages also hinder understanding of the history. A good message should clearly explain the change made to the source code.
Finally, poor management of rights on a GitHub repository can compromise the security and stability of the project.
Git, GitHub, and OVHcloud solutions
Projects based on Git and GitHub are generally deployed on hosting infrastructure. OVHcloud offers several solutions tailored to different uses, both in production and training.
Personal
A suitable solution for deploying sites and applications whose source code is managed via Git. It allows for publishing new versions from a GitHub repository while maintaining clear control of changes.
VPS
They offer a flexible environment for hosting versioned projects with Git and GitHub. They allow for the automation of deployments, testing new features, and maintaining complete control over the environment, while adapting to evolving needs.
Dedicated servers
Bare Metal dedicated servers are suitable for projects requiring high performance and complete control of the infrastructure. They are suitable for critical applications, collaborative platforms, and high-traffic environments where the development cycle relies on Git and GitHub.
To go further, OVHcloud also offers tips for easily creating your site and presents our various use cases. For community projects, specific recommendations are available for hosting a forum.