1.1 Practical

Set up a GitHub account and create your first repository

Step 1: Create a GitHub Account

If you don’t already have a GitHub account:

1. Go to github.com
2. Click “Sign up” in the top right corner
3. Enter your email address, create a password, and choose a username
4. Complete the verification process
5. Choose the free plan when prompted

Step 2: Create Your First Repository

1. Sign in to GitHub and navigate to your dashboard
2. Click the green “New” button or the “+” icon in the top right corner and select “New repository”

Create new repository button

3. Fill in repository details:
   • Repository name: Choose a descriptive name (e.g., my-first-repo)
   • Description: Add a brief description (optional but recommended)
   • Visibility: Keep it Public for this exercise
   • ✅ Check “Add a README file” - this creates an initial file in your repository
   • Leave other options as default

Repository creation form

4. Click “Create repository”

Read the GitHUb repository creation docs for more information.

Step 3: Launch Your Repository in Codespaces

1. Navigate to your new repository (you should be there automatically after creation)
2. Click the green “Code” button
3. Select the “Codespaces” tab
4. Click “Create codespace on main”

Launch Codespaces

5. Wait for Codespaces to launch - this may take 1-2 minutes
6. You now have a full development environment running in your browser!

TipWhat just happened?

You’ve created:

• A repository - your project folder on GitHub
• A Codespace - a virtual development environment connected to your repository
• Your first README.md file - which serves as the front page of your repository

Your Codespace includes a code editor, terminal, and all the tools needed for development, including git!

Next Steps

Once your Codespace is running, you’re ready to start learning git commands in the next practical session.