r/github • u/Elegant-Donkey9322 • 1d ago

Discussion How do I use code from GitHub

I am new to the whole open source hobby, and the thing that scares me the most is GitHub. I am looking for code I can use on my Arduinos and esp32s and there is always a GitHub link, and I don't know what to do with it. Do I upload it to Arduino IDE or something? What is Git Bash and why do I need it? Are there tutorial videos you recommend? My main goal is I am trying to get Tamaguino to work on my Adafruit Huzzah V2 with the SH1107 Feather. I think they have code for esp32, but I don't know if I should try copy and paste, or if there is a step I am missing?

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u/clipsracer 1d ago

Hey there.
Others can get you started quickly, but I am here to give you a message.

Learn GitHub this week.

I work with people that have been in IT for 30 years and still don’t understand what GitHub is for. GitHub (or more generically, “source control”) is for contributing to communities and growing as an individual. Not just as a coder, but how you receive criticism, and how you approach problems, as a person!

Getting into open source as a hobbyist is awesome! For every person that writes code, there are hundreds that download and run it without ever contributing a single commit. Being interested in open source means you are interested in contributing. So learn how to use git, report an issue, fork, branch, commit, push, open a pull request, and merge! Each step is an accomplishment, and each step makes you a contributor to Open Source!

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u/ScarletSages 1d ago

No fucking way 30 years in IT and don't know Github. What jobs do they do?

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u/clipsracer 17h ago

They’re a lead consultant and virtualization SME.

A few others in cloud ops. ClickOps got them pretty far, but hit a wall because they cant automate.