Free and open-source version-control software includes
Repositories (forges) include
Git can be used directly at the command line, or through a client such as Magit or VC, both for Emacs (comparisons 1, 2).
GitHub operations can be done
using git directly;
using
GitHub CLI (gh) at the command line;
using a GitHub GUI application
(
GitHub Desktop or
Github Mobile; or
on the Web at github.com.
To fork a repository:
navigate to it in some way
(e.g., go to https://github.com/Slicer/Slicer);
click on the button (near the top right);
probably accept the default settings; and
click on .
After a short time,
you should find yourself looking at the forked repository,
and it should appear on your GitHub home page.
To modify a repository: navigate to a file you want to modify;
click on the icon (a pencil,
top right) or, equivalently, click on the down-arrow beside the icon
and click on ;
modify the file; and click on .
In the dialogue that appears, specify a Commit message,
being aware of any special requirements for the repository
(e.g., Slicer requires that the commit message start with
one of a set of tags, followed by a colon (e.g., DOC: )
followed by a space and a brief statement that starts with a capitalized
imperative verb), because you may not be able to change it later.
Optionally add an extended description.
If you're in your own fork, keep the selection to
‘Commit directly to the main branch’,
and click on .
To submit your modifications to the original repository,
click on the tab at the top
and then click on .
You should see a comparison between your modified file and the
original file. At the top it shows which repositories and branches
are involved. The one-line commit message is shown, and if you
click on beside it you can see
the optional extended description.
Check that everything looks correct, then click on
.
On the page that appears, the fields for
Add a title and Add a description
will contain your commit message and extended description.
Check again that they're correct, then scroll down, leave the
box checked,
and click on . If
you're not ready to do that, you can click on the down arrow
on the button and select
.
On the page that appears, some checks will be run
(including one that checks to format of the commit message).
Hopefully the checks will all pass.
There will probably be messages saying Merging is blocked
and Review required.
Wait for someone to review the pull request.
If you want to submit another change to the same repository, there may be even after your pull request has been approved,
To delete a forked repository: open it by clicking on its name
on your GitHub home page;
click on the Settings tab at the top; scroll to the bottom of the
page; click on ; then
go through the multiple steps of confirmation and authentication.