GitHub Fundamentals: Your Complete Guide to the World's Leading Development Platform
Everything you need to know about GitHub—what it is, how it differs from other platforms, and how to choose between public and private repositories—explained in plain, beginner-friendly language.
📅 Published: Feb 2026
⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes
🏷️ Tags: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Version Control, Repository Management, DevOps
🌟 Introduction: What is GitHub?
The Simple Explanation
Imagine a giant, magical folder in the sky where programmers can store their code, work together on it, and keep track of every single change ever made. That's GitHub in a nutshell.
But it's so much more than just storage. GitHub is like a social network for code—a place where millions of developers from around the world share their work, learn from each other, and build amazing things together.
When you use GitHub, you're not just storing code. You're joining a community. You're getting access to tools that help you:
Track every change you've ever made to your code
Collaborate with teammates without stepping on each other's toes
Review each other's work before it becomes final
Automate testing and deployment
Discover and use code written by others
Showcase your work to potential employers
The Problem GitHub Solves
Think about trying to write a book with a friend using only email.
You'd write a chapter, email it to your friend. They'd make changes, email it back. But then you'd have "chapter1_final.doc", "chapter1_final_revised.doc", "chapter1_final_revised_actually_final.doc", and you'd have no idea who changed what or when.
Now imagine doing that with hundreds of files and dozens of people. Chaos, right?
This is exactly the problem version control systems solve. And GitHub makes version control accessible, visual, and collaborative.
GitHub in Three Sentences
GitHub is a web-based platform that uses Git, a version control system, to help people store and manage their code. It adds collaboration features like pull requests, issue tracking, and project management on top of Git. Think of it as Google Docs for code, but infinitely more powerful.
🔍 GitHub vs GitLab vs Bitbucket: Understanding Your Options
The Big Three: A Quick Overview
Just as there are different car manufacturers (Toyota, Honda, Ford), there are different platforms for hosting Git repositories. The three major players are:
| Platform | Best Known For | Parent Company | When to Choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Open source community, largest user base | Microsoft | Most projects, especially public/open source |
| GitLab | Integrated DevOps, built-in CI/CD | GitLab Inc. | Teams wanting all-in-one DevOps in one tool |
| Bitbucket | Jira/Atlassian integration | Atlassian | Teams already using Jira, Confluence, etc. |
Deep Dive: GitHub
GitHub is the 800-pound gorilla of code hosting. With over 100 million developers and counting, it's where the open source world lives.
What makes GitHub special:
1. The Community
GitHub is where open source happens. Linux? On GitHub. Kubernetes? On GitHub. React, TensorFlow, VS Code? All on GitHub. When you contribute to open source, you're almost certainly using GitHub.
2. Discoverability
GitHub has become a social network. You can follow developers, star repositories (like bookmarking), and explore trending projects. It's how developers learn what's new and cool.
3. GitHub Actions
Built-in CI/CD that's deeply integrated with your repositories. Push code, and GitHub can automatically test it, build it, and deploy it.
4. GitHub Pages
Free hosting for static websites directly from your repository. Perfect for project documentation, personal portfolios, or blogs.
5. Copilot (AI Pair Programmer)
GitHub's AI-powered code completion that suggests entire functions as you type. It's trained on all public code on GitHub.
Best for: Open source projects, public code, developers who want to be part of the larger coding community, teams already using Microsoft tools.
Deep Dive: GitLab
GitLab started as an open source alternative to GitHub but has evolved into a complete DevOps platform. It's not just about storing code—it's about managing the entire software development lifecycle in one place.
What makes GitLab special:
1. Single Application for the Entire DevOps Lifecycle
GitLab includes everything: repository hosting, CI/CD, package registry, container registry, security scanning, and even monitoring. You don't need to piece together multiple tools.
2. Built-in CI/CD from Day One
While GitHub added Actions later, GitLab was built with CI/CD as a core feature. For many teams, GitLab's CI/CD is more powerful and flexible.
3. Self-Hosting Option
GitLab is famous for being easy to self-host. If you need to keep everything behind your own firewall for security or compliance reasons, GitLab is the go-to choice.
4. Free Tier is Generous
GitLab's free tier includes more features than GitHub's free tier, making it attractive for small teams.
5. Built-in Container Registry
Store and manage Docker containers right alongside your code.
Best for: Teams wanting a single, integrated DevOps platform, organizations that need to self-host, teams that want extensive CI/CD capabilities out of the box.
Deep Dive: Bitbucket
Bitbucket is Atlassian's entry in the code hosting space. If your team already uses Jira, Confluence, or Trello, Bitbucket fits right in.
What makes Bitbucket special:
1. Jira Integration (Unmatched)
The integration between Bitbucket and Jira is seamless. Branches link to tickets, commits appear in Jira issues, and pull requests can transition Jira tickets automatically. If your team lives in Jira, Bitbucket feels like home.
2. Bitbucket Pipelines
Built-in CI/CD that's simple to configure. Not as powerful as GitLab CI or GitHub Actions, but easier for basic needs.
3. Free Private Repositories for Small Teams
Bitbucket has always been generous with free private repositories, making it attractive for small teams that need to keep code private.
4. Git LFS Included
Large File Storage is included in Bitbucket plans, not an add-on.
5. Mercurial Support (Historical)
Bitbucket originally supported both Git and Mercurial (another version control system). They've since dropped Mercurial, but older users remember this.
Best for: Teams already deep in the Atlassian ecosystem, small teams needing free private repositories, organizations that prioritize Jira integration.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | GitHub | GitLab | Bitbucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free public repos | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Free private repos | Unlimited (with limits) | Unlimited (generous limits) | Unlimited (up to 5 users) |
| Built-in CI/CD | GitHub Actions | GitLab CI (included) | Bitbucket Pipelines |
| CI/CD minutes (free) | 2000/month | 400/month | 50/month |
| Maximum repo size | No limit (files <100MB) | 10GB | 2GB |
| Jira integration | Good | Good | Excellent (native) |
| Self-hosted option | GitHub Enterprise | GitLab Self-Managed | Bitbucket Data Center |
| Package registry | GitHub Packages | GitLab Package Registry | ❌ |
| Container registry | GitHub Container Registry | GitLab Container Registry | ❌ |
| Pages hosting | GitHub Pages | GitLab Pages | ❌ |
| Wiki | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Issue tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Project boards | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ (Jira) |
| Code review | Pull Requests | Merge Requests | Pull Requests |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose GitHub if:
You're working on open source or want to share your code with the world
You want to be part of the largest developer community
You're already using Microsoft tools (VS Code, Azure, etc.)
You love GitHub Actions and the marketplace ecosystem
You want GitHub Pages for documentation
Choose GitLab if:
You want a single tool for the entire DevOps lifecycle
You need to self-host for compliance/security reasons
You want the most powerful built-in CI/CD
You're building a complex deployment pipeline
You want everything in one place without integrations
Choose Bitbucket if:
Your team already lives in Jira (and you love it)
You're a small team that needs free private repos
You prefer simplicity over advanced features
You're already using other Atlassian tools
The honest answer: For most teams, GitHub and GitLab are the frontrunners. GitHub wins for community and ecosystem. GitLab wins for integrated DevOps. Bitbucket is the specialist choice for Atlassian shops.
🔒 Public vs Private Repositories: Making the Right Choice
The Fundamental Question
When you create a repository on GitHub (or any platform), you face a fundamental decision: Should it be public or private?
Public Repository Private Repository
│ │
▼ ▼
World can see Only you and
your code invited collaborators
can see your codeThis isn't just about hiding code—it's about collaboration model, security, and even career opportunities.
Public Repositories: Open to the World
A public repository is visible to everyone on the internet. Anyone can view your code, clone it, download it, and (if you allow it) suggest changes.
What you can do with public repos:
Share your work with the world
Accept contributions from anyone
Use GitHub's community features (stars, forks, watchers)
Get discovered by potential employers
Build an open source project
What you can't do:
Hide your code (obviously)
Control who sees it
Use certain advanced security features (varies by platform)
When to Choose Public Repositories
1. Open Source Projects
This is what public repos were made for. Linux, Python, React—all developed in public. If you want others to use, contribute to, or learn from your code, make it public.
# Example: You build a useful JavaScript library # Making it public means: # - Other developers can use it # - They can report bugs # - They can contribute improvements # - Your project can grow beyond what you alone can build
2. Learning and Portfolio Building
If you're learning to code or looking for a job, public repositories are your portfolio. Employers can see your code quality, how you structure projects, and even your commit history (which shows how you work).
# Your GitHub profile becomes your technical resume # Recruiters WILL look at it # Make it public, make it good
3. Teaching and Documentation
Public repos are perfect for sharing tutorials, example code, or documentation. Many technical books now use public repos for examples and errata.
4. Community Building
If you want to build a community around your project, it must be public. People can't star, fork, or watch private repositories.
The Risks of Public Repositories
⚠️ You're exposing your code—including any mistakes, bad practices, or security vulnerabilities. This is fine for mature projects but can be embarrassing for work-in-progress.
⚠️ Others can fork (copy) your code and do whatever they want with it (within the terms of your license). If you choose a permissive license, competitors could use your code commercially.
⚠️ You might accidentally expose secrets. API keys, passwords, or credentials committed to a public repo are immediately compromised. Bots scan public repos for secrets constantly.
Private Repositories: Your Code, Your Rules
A private repository is visible only to you and people you explicitly invite. It's like a private club—no one gets in without an invitation.
What you can do with private repos:
Keep proprietary code secret
Collaborate with your team privately
Work on projects before they're ready for public launch
Store sensitive code (internal tools, client work)
What you can't do:
Get stars or community engagement
Use as a public portfolio
Accept contributions from strangers
When to Choose Private Repositories
1. Proprietary Code
If your code is your company's secret sauce—the thing that gives you a competitive advantage—keep it private.
# Example: Your company's main product # The code that runs your business # Definitely private
2. Client Work
If you're a consultant or agency building software for clients, that code belongs to them. Keep it private out of respect for their intellectual property.
3. Work-in-Progress
Sometimes you want to work on something before it's ready for public consumption. Private repos let you iterate without embarrassment.
4. Internal Tools
Code that only your company uses (internal dashboards, deployment scripts, configuration) doesn't need to be public.
5. Compliance and Regulation
If you work in healthcare (HIPAA), finance (SOX), or other regulated industries, you may be legally required to keep code private.
The Middle Ground: Internal Repositories
Some platforms (especially GitHub Enterprise and GitLab) support "internal" repositories—visible to all logged-in members of your organization, but not to the public. This is perfect for internal tools that multiple teams need but shouldn't be public.
Repository visibility levels: - Public: 🌍 Anyone on the internet - Internal: 🏢 Anyone in your organization - Private: 👥 Only invited collaborators
Making the Decision: A Simple Flowchart
Do you want the world to see your code?
├─ YES → Make it public
│ ├─ Are you building something for others to use?
│ ├─ Do you want contributions from strangers?
│ ├─ Is this your coding portfolio?
│ └─ Are you teaching or sharing knowledge?
│
└─ NO → Make it private
├─ Is this proprietary business code?
├─ Is this client work?
├─ Is this not ready for public view?
├─ Does it contain secrets or credentials?
└─ Are there compliance/regulatory requirements?What About Pricing?
Historically, private repositories cost money. Today, all major platforms offer free private repositories with some limitations:
| Platform | Free Private Repos | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Unlimited | Limited Actions minutes, up to 3 collaborators per private repo |
| GitLab | Unlimited | 400 CI/CD minutes/month, 5GB storage |
| Bitbucket | Unlimited | Up to 5 users total |
For most individuals and small teams, free private repositories are sufficient. You only need paid plans for:
More CI/CD minutes
Advanced security features
More collaborators
Enterprise features (SAML, auditing, etc.)
🎯 Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: The Open Source Developer
You: A developer who loves building tools for other developers. You've created a nice little library that helps people format dates.
Decision: ✅ Public repository
Why: You want others to use your library, contribute improvements, and maybe even help maintain it. Your GitHub stars become social proof of your project's value. Potential employers can see your work.
Best platform: GitHub (largest open source community)
Scenario 2: The Startup Founder
You: Building the next big thing. Your code is your competitive advantage. You have a small team of 3 developers.
Decision: ✅ Private repository
Why: Until you launch, you don't want competitors seeing what you're building. Even after launch, your core algorithms should remain private.
Best platform: GitLab (all-in-one DevOps) or GitHub (larger ecosystem)
Scenario 3: The Consultant
You: Build websites and applications for clients. Each client has their own project.
Decision: ✅ Private repositories per client
Why: Client code belongs to them, not the world. Each project should be isolated with access only for you and the client.
Best platform: Any—but GitHub's organization structure works well for managing multiple client projects
Scenario 4: The Enterprise
You: A large company with hundreds of developers, multiple teams, and strict compliance requirements.
Decision: ✅ Private repositories with internal visibility options
Why: Most code should be visible within the company (to encourage reuse) but not to the public. You need SSO, auditing, and compliance features.
Best platform: GitHub Enterprise or GitLab Self-Managed
📋 Quick Reference Summary
GitHub
Best for: Open source, community, Microsoft ecosystem
Public repos: Free, unlimited
Private repos: Free with limits
Unique features: Actions, Pages, Copilot, largest community
Self-hosted: GitHub Enterprise
GitLab
Best for: All-in-one DevOps, self-hosting, CI/CD power users
Public repos: Free, unlimited
Private repos: Free, generous
Unique features: Built-in CI/CD from day one, easy self-hosting
Self-hosted: GitLab Self-Managed
Bitbucket
Best for: Atlassian shops, Jira lovers, small teams
Public repos: Free, unlimited
Private repos: Free for up to 5 users
Unique features: Best Jira integration, simple CI/CD
Self-hosted: Bitbucket Data Center
Repository Visibility
Public: 🌍 Everyone can see
Private: 👥 Only invited collaborators
Internal: 🏢 All org members can see (GitHub/GitLab paid)
🚀 Next Steps
Now that you understand the fundamentals, you're ready to:
Create your first repository (public or private—your choice!)
Learn basic Git commands to interact with your repos
Explore GitHub Pages to host a simple website
Contribute to an open source project
Set up CI/CD to automate your workflow
Remember: The best way to learn GitHub is to use GitHub. Create an account, make a repo, and start experimenting. You can't break anything permanently—that's what version control is for!
🔗 Master GitHub with Hands-on Labs
Theory is essential, but GitHub is learned through doing—creating repositories, opening pull requests, reviewing code, and collaborating with others.
👉 Practice GitHub fundamentals with guided exercises in our interactive labs at:
https://devops.trainwithsky.com/
Our platform provides:
Real repositories to create and manage
Pull request simulations
Fork and contribute exercises
GitHub Actions workflow practice
Team collaboration scenarios
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I have both public and private repositories in the same account?
A: Yes! Your GitHub/GitLab/Bitbucket account can have any mix of public and private repositories. They're completely separate.
Q: If I make a private repository public later, what happens?
A: You can change visibility at any time. When you switch from private to public, your code becomes visible to everyone. All commit history, issues, and pull requests also become public. You cannot easily go back to private after being public (though you can delete and recreate).
Q: Do I need to pay for GitHub?
A: No! GitHub's free tier is extremely generous. You only need to pay for advanced features, more CI/CD minutes, or larger teams.
Q: Which platform is most popular?
A: GitHub, by a massive margin. It's the default choice for most developers and open source projects.
Q: Can I use more than one platform?
A: Absolutely. Many developers have accounts on all three. Some companies use GitHub for open source and GitLab self-hosted for internal code.
Q: Is my code safe on these platforms?
A: Yes—as safe as any cloud service. All major platforms have excellent security, encryption, and backup practices. Your bigger risk is accidentally committing secrets or choosing the wrong visibility.
Still have questions about GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket? Not sure whether to make your repo public or private? Share your specific scenario in the comments below—our community has helped hundreds of developers make this decision! 💬
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