Linking your GitHub account to Visual Studio Code (VSCode) is a great way to streamline your development workflow while keeping your version control system organized. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to link your GitHub account to VSCode:
Step 1: Install Git on your computer
Before you can start linking your GitHub account to VSCode, you need to have Git installed on your computer. Git is a powerful version control system that lets you manage and track changes to your code over time. You can download Git from the official website: https://git-scm.com/downloads. Follow the installation instructions that are provided.
Step 2: Install the GitHub VSCode extension
Open Visual Studio Code and click on the Extensions tab on the left-hand side of the interface (or press Ctrl + Shift + X). In the search bar, type "GitHub" and look for the one that says "GitHub Pull Requests and Issues". Install the extension by clicking on the green Install button.
Step 3: Sign in to your GitHub account in VSCode
Click on the Extensions tab again and look for the GitHub extension you have just installed. Click on the gear icon next to the extension, then select "Sign in to GitHub.com". You will be redirected to the GitHub website to enter your credentials. Enter your username and password, and then click "Sign in".
Step 4: Create a GitHub repository
You can either create a new repository on GitHub.com or clone an existing repository with the command git clone. If you create a new repository, be sure to give it a name and description, and select whether you want it to be public or private. Once you have your repository ready, you can copy the URL of your repository.
Step 5: Connect VSCode to your GitHub repository
In VSCode, open the Command Palette by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P to bring up a list of VSCode commands. Type "Git: Clone" and select it. Paste the URL of your repository that you copied in Step 4 into the text box. Choose the folder where you want to clone the repository to and click "OK".
Step 6: Commit and push changes to GitHub
Now that you have connected VSCode to your GitHub repository, you can start making changes to your code. When you're ready to commit your changes and push them to GitHub, click on the Source Control panel on the left-hand side of the interface. You will see a list of files that have been modified, added or deleted. Add a message describing your changes and click on the checkmark next to it. Finally, click on the "..." button and select "Push".
And that's it! You have successfully linked your GitHub account to Visual Studio Code. You can now manage your GitHub repositories directly from VSCode, track changes to your code, and collaborate with other developers.
Bonus Tips
Use Git and GitHub branching for better collaboration: With Git and GitHub, you can create branches for your code changes, allowing you to work on multiple features simultaneously without affecting the main codebase. This feature also enables you to collaborate better with other developers on the same project, and ensure that your code changes don't break the existing code.
Utilize Visual Studio Code's built-in Git features: VSCode comes with built-in Git features that allow you to perform common Git commands such as commit, push, pull, and merge, directly from the interface. You can access these features from the Source Control panel, which also shows the status of your repository and any changes made to your files.
Configure Git and GitHub for better security: To ensure that your code and repository are secure, you can configure Git and GitHub to use HTTPS or SSH protocols for authentication