When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
Get started with Git and GitHub in this self-paced, introductory course! You’ll become familiar with collaborative version control and popular Git platforms. Collaboration and social coding are crucial parts of contemporary Software Engineering practices and the DevOps culture.
You will begin this course with an overview of Git and Github fundamentals and explore key Git concepts such as branching and repositories, as well as the use of Git commands. You will also learn and practice various Git concepts such as forking, cloning and merging workflows using hands-on labs. And you’ll learn to use GitHub to work effectively as a team, and perform common Git operations, from both the Web UI and command line.
The course wraps up with a final project where you will start building your portfolio by creating and sharing a public/open-source GitHub project. By completing this course you will demonstrate your Git and Github skills as well as add a project to your resume!
All hands-on activities in this course can be performed using web-browser based tools and interfaces. Installation of any specialized software is NOT required on your own computer in order to complete the course.
Application developers rarely work alone. Large web/cloud/mobile development and data science projects will include many people – front-end developers, back-end developers, database administrators, repository administrators, and others. Every change by every contributor must be tracked and controlled to enable collaboration, accountability, and version management. This type of distributed version control is extremely important when managing both small and large software projects. In this module, you will learn about some of the popular version control tools, create a GitHub account, and use the GitHub web interface to create a repository, add a file to it, and commit your changes. Branches are the heart of workflows in Git-based version control systems like GitHub. You will also become familiar with creating and using branches and merging your changes to the main branch.
What's included
6 videos2 readings3 assignments3 plugins
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 24 minutes
Course Introduction•4 minutes
Overview of Git and GitHub•4 minutes
Introduction to GitHub•5 minutes
GitHub Repositories•4 minutes
GitHub - Getting Started•3 minutes
GitHub Branches•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 4 minutes
Summary: Getting Started with Git and GitHub•2 minutes
Summary: Branches with GitHub•2 minutes
3 assignments•Total 37 minutes
Practice Quiz: Getting Started with Git and GitHub •10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Branches with GitHub •6 minutes
Graded Quiz: Git and GitHub Fundamentals•21 minutes
3 plugins•Total 55 minutes
Hands-On Lab: GitHub Sign Up and Create Repo•30 minutes
Hands-On Lab: Branching and Merging (Web UI)•20 minutes
Glossary: Git and GitHub Fundamentals •5 minutes
Git Commands and Managing GitHub Projects
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
As you start working with GitHub repositories and automating workflows, using the web interface can be limiting and more time-consuming. This is where Git commands come in. You can use it from your own desktop, or a virtual desktop provided through the Cloud IDE - wherever you develop your code. In this module, you will become familiar with and utilize various Git commands to clone and fork repositories, as well as commit, push, and pull your changes using the command line.
Demo: Working with Branches using Git Commands•5 minutes
Cloning and Forking GitHub Projects•6 minutes
Cloning versus Forking•7 minutes
Managing GitHub Projects•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 2 minutes
Summary: Git Workflows with Git Commands•2 minutes
2 assignments•Total 31 minutes
Practice Quiz: Git Workflows with Git Commands•10 minutes
Graded Quiz: Git Commands and Managing GitHub Projects •21 minutes
2 app items•Total 50 minutes
Hands-On Lab: Getting Started with Branches using Git Commands•25 minutes
Hands-On Lab: Cloning and Forking GitHub Projects•25 minutes
3 plugins•Total 29 minutes
Reading: Git Commands•15 minutes
Cheat Sheet: Git Commands and Managing GitHub Projects •10 minutes
Glossary: Git Commands and Managing GitHub Projects •4 minutes
Final Project and Assessment
Module 3•5 hours to complete
Module details
Now that you are familiar working with GitHub repositories, Branches, and Git commands, in this module you will apply your knowledge and skills to create a GitHub Project, add few files to it such as an open-source license, and share it publicly.
Option 2: Peer Review Submission and Evaluation•30 minutes
3 app items•Total 135 minutes
Option 1: AI-Graded Submission and Evaluation•30 minutes
Practice Project: Part 2 - Git CLI•45 minutes
Final Project: Part 2 - Git CLI•60 minutes
5 plugins•Total 95 minutes
Practice Project: Overview•15 minutes
Practice Project: Part 1 - GitHub UI•30 minutes
Final Project: Overview and Grading Criteria•15 minutes
Final Project: Part 1 - GitHub UI•30 minutes
Course Glossary: Git and GitHub•5 minutes
[Optional] Working with GitHub from Your Windows Desktop
Module 4•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you will learn to install Git Bash on your Windows machine and configure an SSH key to work with your GitHub repo using Git commands on your system.
What's included
1 reading4 plugins
Show info about module content
1 reading•Total 10 minutes
Using Git Commands from your Desktop (Optional)•10 minutes
4 plugins•Total 85 minutes
Hands-On Lab: GitBash Installation on Desktop (Optional)•20 minutes
At IBM, we know how rapidly tech evolves and recognize the crucial need for businesses and professionals to build job-ready, hands-on skills quickly. As a market-leading tech innovator, we’re committed to helping you thrive in this dynamic landscape. Through IBM Skills Network, our expertly designed training programs in AI, software development, cybersecurity, data science, business management, and more, provide the essential skills you need to secure your first job, advance your career, or drive business success. Whether you’re upskilling yourself or your team, our courses, Specializations, and Professional Certificates build the technical expertise that ensures you, and your organization, excel in a competitive world.
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Learner reviews
4.6
1,929 reviews
5 stars
75.54%
4 stars
17.82%
3 stars
3.67%
2 stars
1.24%
1 star
1.70%
Showing 3 of 1929
S
ST
5·
Reviewed on Oct 5, 2023
one of the best courses for beginners having great basic knowledge and hands-on lab by IBM are amazing special thanks to Coursera for providing financial aid for this course
B
BR
5·
Reviewed on Oct 28, 2023
Very Good Course as an introduction to Git and Github. It got me interested to search more and know more about how to use Github.
A
AP
5·
Reviewed on Apr 12, 2025
There should be more information on the final project. I was a bit confused if it was talking about writing in CLI or Github.
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Certificate?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.