Create Repository

Return to your GitHub homepage:

To initiate the creation of a new repository, click either the green "Create repository" button on the left side of your screen, or click the plus button next to your icon and "New repository" button.

There are several components to a repository that you need to set-up in this stage.

  • Repository Name: Name of your repository. Try to keep it short and succinct. For our purposes, we can name our repository "demo".

  • Description (optional): A sentence describing the purpose and contents of your repository, such as, "A demo repository to learn GitHub." (You can probably think of a better description.)

  • Public or Private: You can allow your repository to be seen by anybody (public) or by only people you give access to (private). For now, we will make our repositories public.

  • Add a README file: Repositories are customarily given a README file, which is a markdown file where you can write a longer description about what is included in your repository. I would check this box off, and we can later write into the README file.

  • Add .gitignore: A .gitignore file is a list of folders and subdirectories that you do not want git to push or pull from your local or GitHub repository. I would check this box off and select the programming language you will primarily using in your repository as your template; in our case, type "R" into the "Filter ignore" search box.

  • Choose a license: This doesn't apply to us right now; this is mostly for repositories that are meant to be shared with others, and the license writes out what can or cannot be done with the code in the repository. I would not check it off.

These settings are not permanent, and if you decide later on that, for example, you want to make your repository private, you can change that setting later on.

Once you're satisfied with your initial repository settings, click "Create Repository".

You've made your repository! Note that our repository has a .gitignore file and a README.md file. The name of the repository is next to our username (EX. beliciarodriguez/demo) and our description is in the right-side column under "About".

Also note that your README file is displayed underneath the files in your repository. This helps whoever sees your repository can immediately read its description.

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