Git workshop template

This repository is for the Git workshop for Subnational Statistics on 2023-08-24.

It contains several simple tasks, chosen to allow people to focus on using Git and working together on code in pairs. These tasks can be accessed via the Issues or Projects tab. One task is intended as a demo by workshop leaders. Three similar tasks are provided for attendees to try in groups of two or three. Two "stretch tasks" are provided for people who complete the other tasks quickly.

Exercise

1. Form a group of two or three workshop attendees. Choose a team member to share their screen first. This person is known as the "driver".
2. Create a folder on your computer called "repos" and navigate into it from the command line. clone this repository into your "repos" folder.
3. Create a python or R file in your local version of the repository. This is where you will write code for all of the exercises, so name it after your team members.
4. Select a task from the list provided. Starting from the main branch, create a new branch for your team to work on and checkout the new branch.

Tip: give your branch an informative and concise name - consider using the issue number, keywords and your team names or initials

5. Set a timer and start coding! The driver should write some code to meet the requirements set out in the task. The other team member(s) should review in real time, offering suggestions on design and hopefully spotting typos!
6. After 5 minutes has passed or you have a working solution (whichever comes first), save, add, commit and push the code.
7. If you have not finished the task, chose a new driver, who should pull and checkout the branch and continue the task. Swap again after another 5 minutes has passed, until the task is complete.
8. Head back to GitHub and open the Pull request tab. Using the template provided, create a new pull request from the branch you have been working on to the main branch.
9. The team member who did the least coding should review the code against the definition of done. If you are happy, approve the pull request and merge the branch. Delete the branch you created for this task.
10. checkout the main branch and pull. Now return to step 4. Repeat until you run out of tasks or time.

If your team gets stuck at any point, ask for help in your breakout room chat and a facilitator will join to assist! If you have any difficulties with the coding tasks, example solutions are available on the python-examples or r_examples branches.

Useful commands

git clone repository_url – Clone a repository hosted on GitHub or GitLab
git pull – Pull any changes from the online repo to your local repo
git checkout branch_name - Checkout a branch
git checkout –b new_branch_name – Create a new branch and check it out
git status – Show changes made
git add file_name – Add a change ready to be committed to memory
git commit -m "commit message" – Commit the change to memory with a short commit message
git push – Push the change to the online repo for others to see

cd folder_path - Move to folder. folder_path can be absolute or relative paths
cd .. - Move up a folder

Tip: You can give a longer commit message by pressing Enter straight after git commit. This will take you to a multicoloured text editor where you can add more information. If you do this by accident and want to escape, press Esc and then type :q! and Enter. This will exit the text editor without saving. You can then commit your changes with a short commit message using git commit -m "commit_message"