Lesson 08 — A Complete Beginner Workflow

Goal

Practice the full Git/GitHub workflow from start to finish.

Full workflow

clone → branch → edit → status → add → commit → push → PR → review → merge → pull

Checklist

1. Clone or open the repository

If you do not already have it locally:

git clone https://github.com/organization/repository-name.git
cd repository-name

• I am inside the repository folder.

2. Start from main

git checkout main
git pull

or:

git switch main
git pull

• I am on an up-to-date main branch.

3. Create a branch

git checkout -b docs/add-practice-note

or:

git switch -c docs/add-practice-note

• I created a branch for my change.

4. Make a small change

Edit a file, such as README.md.

• I made one small change.

5. Check status

git status

• I can see my changed file.

6. Stage the change

git add README.md

• I staged the file.

7. Commit the change

git commit -m "docs: add practice note"

• I committed the change.

8. Push the branch

git push -u origin docs/add-practice-note

• I pushed the branch to GitHub.

9. Open a pull request

• I opened GitHub.
• I created a PR from my branch into main.
• I added a short title and description.

10. Update if needed

If feedback is requested:

git add README.md
git commit -m "docs: address feedback"
git push

• I understand that pushing to the same branch updates the PR.

11. Merge the PR

After review:

• The PR is approved or ready.
• The PR is merged.
• The branch is deleted on GitHub if no longer needed.

12. Update local main

git checkout main
git pull

or:

git switch main
git pull

• My local main has the merged change.

Final completion check

• I completed one full Git/GitHub workflow.
• I can describe each step in my own words.
• I know to use branches instead of changing main directly.
• I know to use PRs for review before merging.
• I know to run git status often.