A project is comprised of many different elements. Each element can be distributed in terms of color, framework, file, and even small features. Simply relying on one person to finish these is impossible because he/she is not Jack (From the "Jack of all trades" quote). So those tasks have to be divided into several sections based on the given time frame and so for the key person who is in-charged.
With many people have started their tasks, it is very hard to keep track of who is doing what and what is being done, which is an error, and what can be done to update and maintain in the long run. That's what a useful service helps us to reduce the erroneous, it is "GitHub".
What is GitHub?
GitHub is a portal and cloud-based service that helps developers keep, track, manage and update their code. GitHub is not only for personal uses, it is for team collaboration. Don't forget we are not Jack. With the advancement of the technology and Corona pandemic, cloud-based services serve a very important role, especially for those who are working remotely and still need to keep updated on their contribution to the community and team.
To understand how GitHub works, there are 2 primary elements you need to know before fully absorbing the power of GitHub. There are
- Version Control System (VCS)
- Git
Version Control System
A Version Control System (VCS) is a system to records all the updated and modified files or data into specific versions. Let's put it simply, in 2021 you developed the first version called Alpha for 10 million users and you decided to expand overseas, so you are going to update the version called Beta. There are a lot of data needed to keep track so the operations run smoothly, with VCS it ensures the file is at the latest version and everyone can brainstorm together before working on the project simultaneously.
Git
Git is an open-source software VCS, that is used for managing and tracking file revision. It can track any file type starting from HTML, CSS, JS, TS, PY, and so forth to .jpg, .png. Each file is tracked to ensure its compatibility with our users and the developer who develops the software. Otherwise, your favorite bug will show up. Git is the most popular version control system for software development, and so GitHub utilized this ability by leveraging its service. In another word, "GitHub" is a Hub that consists of many Git, and Git is the set of instructions for tracking all file modifications.
How GitHub help me to get the job?
From the benefit illustrated above, we know GitHub enables the developer to keep track smoothly and identify what mistake was being made that lead bug detected. But some developers might not aware, that Github is is one of the components to help us get hired.
In job applications, Human Resources (HR) usually required us to submit our cover letter and resume as a basic screening process. As developers, the portfolio is essential to show our ability to code, design systems, write code-style logic (don't worry they don't care about your handwritten), problem-solving, and the commitment to become developers.
By using GitHub, you can present your portfolio to the recruiter so that they will send it to the senior developer for the candidate interview process. One of the key important besides presenting the portfolio is that some recruiter would like to see your coding activity based on the "Github Activity Graph" (see figure below) if you have contributed to an existing project and making a self-portfolio, the color Green will show. The more contribution, the color is deeper. So please take note.
