Lesson 02 of 10Concept

Git vs GitHub

Goal: Tell the difference between Git, the tool, and GitHub, a place to host Git repositories.

Two different things with similar names

Git is a program that runs on your computer and tracks the history of a folder.

GitHub is a website owned by a company. It stores copies of Git repositories online, and adds tools for working with other people: pull requests, code review, issues and more.

Git

A command-line tool you install
Works offline, on your own machine
Records history in a local .git folder
Free and open source, created in 2005

GitHub

A website and hosting service
Needs an internet connection and an account
Stores a copy of your repository on its servers
One of several hosts, alongside GitLab and Bitbucket

How they fit together

Your computer                    GitHub                    Teammate's computer
┌──────────────┐    push     ┌──────────────┐    pull     ┌──────────────┐
│  repository  │ ──────────▶ │  repository  │ ──────────▶ │  repository  │
│   (.git)     │ ◀────────── │   (remote)   │ ◀────────── │   (.git)     │
└──────────────┘    pull     └──────────────┘    push     └──────────────┘

Everyone has a full copy of the repository. GitHub hosts a shared copy that everyone pushes to and pulls from.

You can use Git without GitHub

Git works perfectly well on its own. Many people use it only on their laptop to keep a history of their work. Hosting services come in when you want a backup online or want to collaborate.

Everything in this course is about Git itself, so it works the same whichever host you pick later.