7 Benefits of Using GitHub

If you are in the software development industry, then, most likely you have been using GitHub, a repository hosting service for Git that also has a web-based graphical interface. In today’s fast-paced and collaborative world of software development, having the right tools at your disposal can make all the difference.

GitHub has emerged as one of the most popular platforms for version control, code collaboration, and project management, offering a wide range of features designed to streamline the development process and foster collaboration among teams. From individual developers to large organizations, GitHub has become an indispensable tool for anyone involved in software development.

GitHub can be divided into the Git and the Hub. The service includes access controls as well as collaboration features like tools for basic task management and for all projects you handle. GitHub hosts your source code projects in different programming languages and keeps track of the various changes made to every iteration. So, the “Git” implies the version control system; a tool that allows developers to keep track of the constant revisions to their code. The “Hub” is the community of like-minded individuals who participate. It is all about the collaborative effort of the community, in reviewing, improving, and deriving new ideas from the uploaded code. It’s something worth looking into!

In this article, we’ll explore seven key benefits of using GitHub and how it can help you and your team work more efficiently, collaborate effectively, and build better software. Whether you’re new to GitHub or looking to maximize its potential, read on to discover how this powerful platform can transform your development workflow and take your projects to the next level.

Main Benefits of Using GitHub

1. It makes it easy to contribute to your open-source projects
To be honest, nearly every open-source project uses GitHub to manage its project. Using GitHub is free if your project is open source and includes a wiki and issue tracker that makes it easy to include more in-depth documentation and get feedback about your project. If you want to contribute, you just fork a project, make your changes and then send them a pull request using the GitHub web interface.

2. Documentation
By using GitHub, you make it easier to get excellent documentation. Their help section and guides have articles for nearly any topic related to git that you can think of.

3. Showcase your work
Are you a developer and wish to attract recruiters? GitHub is the best tool you can rely on for this. Today, when searching for recruits for their project, most companies look into GitHub profiles. If your profile is available, you will have a higher chance of being recruited even if you are not from a great university or college.

4. Markdown
Markdown allows you to use a simple text editor to write formatted documents. GitHub has revolutionized writing by channeling everything through Markdown: from the issue tracker to user comments, everything. With so many other programming languages to learn for setting up projects, it’s really a big benefit to have your content inputted in a format without having to learn yet another system.

5. GitHub is a repository
This was already mentioned before, but it’s important to note, GitHub is a repository. This means that it allows your work to get out there in front of the public. Moreover, GitHub is one of the largest coding communities around right now, so it’s wide exposure for your project.

6. Track changes in your code across versions
When multiple people collaborate on a project, it’s hard to keep track of revisions—who changed what, when, and where those files are stored. GitHub takes care of this problem by keeping track of all the changes that have been pushed to the repository. Much like using Microsoft Word or Google Drive, you can have a version history of your code so that previous versions are not lost with every iteration.

7. Integration options
GitHub can integrate with common platforms such as Amazon and Google Cloud, services such as Code Climate to track your feedback, and can highlight syntax in over 200 different programming languages.

In conclusion, GitHub offers a multitude of benefits that can significantly enhance the software development process for individuals and teams alike. From simplified version control and seamless collaboration to robust project management and extensive community support, GitHub provides the tools and features needed to streamline workflows, improve productivity, and foster innovation.

By leveraging the power of GitHub, developers can focus more on writing code and building great software, while also benefiting from the collective knowledge and expertise of a global community. As software development continues to evolve, having a reliable and efficient platform like GitHub becomes increasingly essential for staying competitive and delivering high-quality products. If you are working on an exciting project and you need help with software development, let us know. We would be happy to know more about it! Also, if you are interested in software development best practices, we recommend you subscribe to our monthly newsletter by clicking here.