git and github practice

Task 1: Create a Repository for Your Project

Go to GitHub.

Click "New Repository".

Name it something like my-first-python-project.

Add:

• A description

• A README file (tick this)

• A Python .gitignore file

Click Create repository.

Task 2: Open in GitHub Codespaces

On your new repo, click the green “<> Code” button.

Click "Codespaces" tab, then “Create codespace on main”.

This launches a full development environment in your browser.

Task 3: Create a Python File and Run It

Inside Codespaces, in the left file panel:

Right-click → New File → name it hello.py.

Add this code:

print("Hello from Codespaces!")

Press Run or use the Terminal:

python hello.py

Task 4: Create and Track Files with Git

Make a second file called about_me.py with some variables:

name = "Your Name"
age = 20
print(f"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

Now track your changes:

git add .
git commit -m "Add about_me.py"
git push

Task 5: Edit a File and Make Another Commit

Go back to hello.py and change the message.

Add a second line of code.

Then commit again:

git add hello.py
git commit -m "Updated hello message"
git push

Task 6: Create a New Branch

Create a new branch in Terminal:

git checkout -b experimenting

Create a new file, e.g., calculator.py and write a simple sum:

print(10 + 5)

Commit and push:

git add .
git commit -m "Added calculator script"
git push --set-upstream origin experimenting

Task 7: Use the Git Graph (Visualise Commits)

In Codespaces, open the Source Control panel (left bar).

Explore the timeline of your commits and branches.

Note how each file changed over time.

Task 8: Explore the Terminal

Use basic terminal commands:

ls           # lists files
cd folder    # move into a folder
mkdir test   # create a new folder
rm filename  # delete a file

Optional: try editing files in the terminal using nano:

nano hello.py

Task 9: Create a .gitignore File

Create a .gitignore file and add:

*.log
*.csv
__pycache__/

Save it, and make a commit:

git add .gitignore
git commit -m "Add gitignore"
git push

Task 10: Use Markdown in the README

Open the README.md file.

Add:

## About This Project
This is a sample Python project I'm building in GitHub Codespaces.

### Files
- `hello.py` – prints a welcome message
- `about_me.py` – prints your name and age
- `calculator.py` – does simple maths

Commit your changes:

git add README.md
git commit -m "Update README with project info"
git push

Extensions

Task 11: Use input() to get user input in a Python file.

Task 12: Create a functions.py and define multiple reusable functions.

Task 13: Start working on a project (e.g. a calculator or simple data analysis script using lists).