The document discusses getting more comfortable using version control software like GitHub. It outlines 5 stages of increasing GitHub knowledge: from never having heard of it to regularly collaborating on projects without code anxiety. The key to reducing fears about using GitHub is practice - forking public repositories, making changes, and submitting pull requests. The document encourages readers who are uncomfortable with version control due to lack of instruction to start practicing on sample projects.

1. Regina Imhoff
@StabbyMcDuck
I CAN GITHUB
AND SO CAN YOU

2. I CAN GITHUB AND SO CAN YOU
WHY I CARE: I HAD A PROBLEM
▸ Computer Science programs teach a lot of really cool
algorithms, math, and design principles
▸ Computer Science programs DO NOT teach collaboration
well - at least mine doesn’t
▸ In collaborative classes I’ve never had a fellow student say
they were comfortable using Github, instead, they usually
say they would prefer to email code files back and forth
▸ There is a better way!

3. I CAN GITHUB AND SO CAN YOU
SORRY, THIS ISN’T AN INTRO TO GITHUB TALK
▸ For that, go to https://guides.github.com/activities/hello-
world//activities/hello-world/
▸ This is to make you, the newbie, more comfortable with
version control

4. I CAN GITHUB AND SO CAN YOU
THE JOURNEY: STAGES OF GIT KNOWHOW
1. Never heard about Github
2. Heard of Github - sounds complicated
3. Use Github for own personal use
1. Usually assume I am going to destroy or lose code if I use someone else’s repo
4. Try using Github for collaborative use
1. Cloning? Forking? Pulling???
2. Height of losing code anxiety
5. Work on projects with others regularly
1. Little to no code anxiety
What happens between 4.2 and 5.1???

5. I CAN GITHUB AND SO CAN YOU
YOU KNOW ENOUGH TO BE SCARED!
From a personal survey:
‣ 75% of students were uncomfortable using version control
‣ Those who were uncomfortable cited:
‣ Not knowing how version control works
‣ Poor instruction likely to blame.
‣ Thinking they would delete the whole project, destroy the repo, etc.
‣ Thinking it was too complicated
‣ “Emailing code is easier - you know that the other person got it!”
‣ “Cloud9 (cloud based IDE) is easier, you can work on stuff at the same time. You
can’t with version control!”

6. I CAN GITHUB AND SO CAN YOU
HOW TO GET OVER IT: PRACTICE!
▸ For practice forking and submitting pull request:
▸ https://github.com/octocat/Spoon-Knife
▸ Try opening a friend’s public repo and making some
changes
▸ https://github.com/StabbyMcDuck