Contents

The Github.com Website

GitHub.com is a web-based repository and collaboration system for code (and other material) controlled via the git version control system. Owned by Microsoft, it is the home for a large number of open sourcse sowftware projects including:

  • numpy - a Python numerics package

  • node.js - a Javascript framework for web applications

  • homebrew - a Mac package managedr containing popular open source software

On the ACSE course, github is used both to hold teaching materials and as a submission mechanism for assignments. As such, it is important you have a specific github account for your work, even if you have used the service before.

Creating a new account

_Please note the update to the requested format.

This text is based on the relevant GitHub documentation. You will need the login ID which Imperial College has issued you.

  1. Log out of any existing GitHub accounts.

  2. Go to GitHub’s pricing page.

  3. Select ‘Join for Free’.

  4. Enter your username as acse-<your login id>, so a student with the login abc2020 would use acse-abc2020

  5. Pick a secure password matching either of the patterns on the page.

  6. Complete the verification puzzle to show you aren’t a robot and click ‘create account’.

  7. You should receive notification that your new accound has been created, as well as a message to allow you to verify your email account. Please do so. If you have problems with this step, see the documentation.

Updating your github username

If you followed the old version of these instructions, you can update your GitHub username from this settings page. You should also ensure that your college username is linked to your github account on this.

Practising with Github

Github provides a number of guides and tutorials for its web interface here

You are recommended to look through the Hello World and Mastering Markdown tutorials before classes start.

Resources

The git version control system The Python Programming Language