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GitHub Account Setup

GitHub is where developers store, share, and collaborate on code. You'll use it throughout this workshop and in your career.

Create Your Account

1. Go to GitHub

https://github.com/signup

2. Enter your details

  • Email: Use your university email (.edu) — this qualifies you for free GitHub Pro later
  • Password: Choose a strong, unique password
  • Username: Pick something professional (e.g., jsmith-data, jane-doe-23). This will be visible publicly.

Username advice

Your GitHub username becomes part of your public profile URL (github.com/your-username). Employers and collaborators will see this — keep it professional.

3. Complete verification

  • Solve the CAPTCHA puzzle
  • Enter the verification code sent to your email
  • Choose the Free plan (you can upgrade later)

4. Skip the personalization

GitHub will ask about your experience level and interests. Skip it.

Configure Your Profile

Once your account is created:

  1. Click your profile icon → Settings
  2. Add a profile picture (optional but recommended)
  3. Add your name and a short bio (e.g., "MS Data Engineering student @ University")
  4. Set your email visibility preferences under Emails

GitHub offers free Pro features for students:

  1. Visit education.github.com/benefits
  2. Click Get student benefits
  3. Verify with your .edu email and/or student ID
  4. Benefits include: unlimited private repos, GitHub Copilot access, and more

Approval can take a few days

Don't wait for this — continue with the workshop. The free plan has everything you need for now.

Install Git (if not already installed)

Git is the version control tool that powers GitHub. Check if it's already installed:

git --version

If you see a version number (e.g., git version 2.43.0), you're good. If not:

# Install via Homebrew (recommended)
brew install git

# Or install Xcode Command Line Tools (includes git)
xcode-select --install

Download and install from git-scm.com/downloads.

During installation, accept the defaults. Make sure "Git Bash" is selected.

sudo apt update && sudo apt install git -y

Configure Git with your identity

After installing, tell Git who you are:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@university.edu"

Verify your config:

git config --list

Troubleshooting

I already have a personal GitHub account

That's fine! You can use your existing account. Just make sure to add your .edu email under Settings → Emails so you can apply for student benefits.

git command not found on macOS

Run xcode-select --install and follow the prompts. This installs Apple's developer command line tools, which include Git.

I'm on Windows and the terminal looks different

Use Git Bash (installed with Git) for a Unix-like terminal experience. You can also use Windows Terminal with WSL for a full Linux environment.

Next: Your First Repository →