Git Vs GitHub: How Do They Differ?

Git Vs GitHub: How Do They Differ?

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Comparing Git and GitHub by name may be misleading. There is not so much between Git and GitHub as there is between 'Apple INC' and Apple. The former is a brand while the latter is the name of a fruit. In this article, We are going to explore the features of Git and GitHub that make them unique software applications.

Imagine that you want to add a new feature to your web-based product. It makes sense to, first of all, create a different version of the project, add the intended feature, and ensure that everything is working just fine before reconciling your code with the existing project. Well, except you intentionally wanted to break things or ruin the reputation of your project, it would not be sensible to directly tweak a production codebase.

This is where Git shines. It makes the process of managing your work or project look like a piece of cake. It is very easy to create a separate branch of your master project, where you will do all the dirty work. Whether used by an individual or a team, The benefits of using Git are immeasurable.

How does it work?

Git is an open-source Version Control System that allows you to create different versions of your project. It tracks every change made from the inception of your project such that you can easily undo unwanted changes, completely delete a version or a branch that is not in line with your product design. It even allows you to edit previous commits. You can also view the history of all the changes made to your project, the date, and the authors. Git runs on your local machine. This means that you do not need the Internet to work with it.

Now, About GitHub...

It would be near impossible for team members to concurrently work on a remote codebase without a way of letting them access the source code in a manner that they do not interfere with each other's work. This is where cloud-based services like GitHub, GitLab, BitBucket, etc come to play.

GitHub is a cloud-based service that hosts your Git repository. It allows you to manage your repository remotely. Team members, or an individual, can easily clone the master branch to their local machines, do their work, make a pull request when they need to merge it back to the main project. This manner of workflow makes Software development much faster and easy to maintain. Conflicting codes can easily be resolved timely. There has been a proliferation of open-source projects. Thanks to services like GitHub.

Unlike Git which is open-source and completely free, Github is an enterprise software owned by Microsoft co-operation. All core features are free for individuals and for a small team. Their paid plan is relatively cheap though. About $4 per user/month.