As a technical recruiter, you might have heard engineers refer to GitHub or source control in your conversations with them. You have probably had dozens of conversations where the engineer said something like:
- I'm well-versed with source control, especially with Git and branching, so I'm able to make sure the code I write is properly versioned and stored on GitHub.
- I'm a big proponent of version control, so I make sure to use git for all my projects. I also like to use GitHub for collaboration with my team.
- I love getting to use git and branching for projects so that I can keep track of different versions of the code, and I always make sure to push changes to GitHub.
Have you ever wondered what they are referring to. What is Github? What is source control? The goal of this blog post is to help a non technical person understand those concepts and engage with the candidate fluently. Additionally, GitHub is a source for candidates itself which we shall also discuss in detail. Let's get started!
What is Git?
At a high level, GitHub is a cloud-based service that helps developers store and manage their code, as well as track and control changes to their code. GitHub is based on two connected principles:
- Version control
- Git
Version Control
Version control is a system that allows developers to track and manage changes to a software project's codebase over time. It allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously by creating separate branches for different features or bug fixes.
This allows developers to make changes to the code without affecting the main codebase. It also allows for easy tracking and management of changes, as well as the ability to revert to previous versions of the code if necessary.
Git
Git is a specific open-source version control system created by Linus Torvalds in 2005. Specifically, it is a distributed version control system, which means that the entire codebase and history is available on every developer’s computer, which allows for easy branching and merging.
According to a Stack Overflow developer survey, over 87% of developers use Git.
Where does GitHub come in? Why is it important?
GitHub is a for-profit company that offers a cloud-based Git repository hosting service.
Essentially, GitHub makes it a lot easier for individuals and teams to use Git for version control and collaboration. GitHub’s interface is user-friendly enough so even novice coders can take advantage of Git.
Without GitHub, using Git generally requires a bit more technical savvy and use of the command line. GitHub is so user-friendly, though, that some people even use GitHub to manage other types of projects – like writing books.
Some of its features listed below can help better understand its importance in today’s software world:
- Easy Project Management - GitHub is a place where project managers and developers come together to coordinate, track, and update their work so that projects are transparent and stay on schedule.
- Increased Safety With Packages - Packages can be published privately, within the team, or publicly to the open-source community. The packages can be used or reused by downloading them from GitHub.
- Effective Team Management - GitHub helps all the team members stay on the same page and organized. Moderation tools like Issue and Pull Request Locking help the team to focus on the code.
- Improved Code Writing - Pull requests help the organizations to review, develop, and propose new code. Team members can discuss any implementations and proposals through these before changing the source code.
- Increased Code Safety - GitHub uses dedicated tools to identify and analyze vulnerabilities to the code that other tools tend to miss. Development teams everywhere work together to secure the software supply chain, from start to finish.
- Easy Code Hosting - All the code and documentation are in one place. There are millions of repositories on GitHub, and each repository has its own tools to help you host and release code.
GitHub Lingo 101:
Now that GitHub and its existence makes sense, let’s view some of the common terms teams will need to understand when using GitHub. They are:
- Repository (repo) — a folder in which all files and their version histories are stored.
- Branch — a workspace in which you can make changes that won’t affect the live site.
- Markdown (.md) — a way to write in Github that converts plain text to GitHub code. Sites such as Atom and Sublime Text are examples of free resources for developers using Markdown.
- Commit Changes — a saved record of a change made to a file within the repo.
- Pull Request (PR) — the way to ask for changes made to a branch to be merged into another branch that also allows for multiple users to see, discuss and review work being done.
- Merge — after a pull request is approved, the commit will be pulled in (or merged) from one branch to another and then, deployed on the live site
- Issues — how work is tracked when using git. Issues allow users to report new tasks and content fixes, as well as allow users to track progress on a project board from beginning to end of a specific project.
The more team members engage with the platform, the easier it is to understand the ins and outs of GitHub.
What are other options besides Github that developers can use?
The top ten competitors of GitHub are:
- Bitbucket
- Google Cloud Source Repositories
- Phabricator
- GitLab
- Gogs
- Gitea
- SourceForge
- Apache Allura
- Launchpad
- AWS CodeCommit
Recruiting on GitHub:
Recruiting on GitHub is a great way to find and hire talented engineers. Not only is it a great way to find top talent, but it also allows recruiters and sourcers to engage with potential candidates in a professional, yet informal way.
Why Engineers are Available on GitHub?
GitHub offers a variety of features that make it an ideal platform for engineers. GitHub is a collaborative platform, which allows engineers to create, share, and manage projects. This makes it perfect for engineers looking to showcase their work and connect with other developers and work on open source projects. GitHub also offers a wide range of tools, such as code review and issue tracking, which make it easier for engineers to collaborate and work more efficiently. Finally, GitHub is a great place for engineers to stay up to date on the latest technology trends, as many projects are open source and often feature the latest tools and technologies.
How to Recruit on GitHub
1. Set up an account: First, you’ll need to set up a GitHub account. You can use an existing account, or create a new one for recruiting purposes. Be sure to fill out your profile completely, as this will be the first impression potential candidates have of you.
2. Search for engineers: Once your account is set up, you can begin searching for engineers. You can search by location, language, or even specific projects. You can also use the advanced search feature to narrow down your search results.
3. Reach out to potential candidates: Once you’ve identified some potential candidates, you can begin to reach out to them. You can use either the direct messaging feature, or you can comment on their projects.
4. Engage: If a potential candidate responds positively to your outreach, be sure to engage with them. Ask them questions about their projects, offer feedback, and provide resources. This will help to build a relationship and show that you are interested in their work.
Conclusion
GitHub is a powerful tool for developers, one that can be a game-changer for any organization looking to hire and retain talented software engineers. For recruiters and sourcers, it's also a must-have resource when looking for top talent.
About Rocket
Rocket pairs talented recruiters with advanced AI to help companies hit their hiring goals and knows technology recruiting inside out. Rocket is headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley but has recruiters all over the US & Canada serving the needs of our growing client base across engineering, product management, data science and more through a variety of offerings and solutions.
