GitHub for Python Students: A Practical Walkthrough

Why Students Need GitHub

• Portfolio visible to universities and employers.
• Backup — never lose your code.
• Free Student Developer Pack with $200+ of tools.

Step 1 — Create an Account

Sign up at github.com with your school email to qualify for the Student Pack.

Step 2 — Install Git

# macOS
brew install git
# Windows: download from git-scm.com

Step 3 — Create a Repository

Click "New repository" on GitHub. Leave it public if you want it visible on your profile.

Step 4 — Push From the Command Line

git init
git add .
git commit -m "initial commit"
git branch -M main
git remote add origin https://github.com/YOU/repo.git
git push -u origin main

Step 5 — Write a README

Your README is the landing page. Explain what the project does, how to run it, and include a screenshot.

Portfolio Tips

• Pin 4-6 best repositories.
• Use consistent README templates.
• Green squares = recent activity. Commit weekly.