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Create a GitHub repo

Updated Sep 18, 2026

Sign up, make an empty repository, clone it to your laptop. Public is fine for these guides.

Before you start:Get your computer ready

Step 1: Account

Go to github.com and sign up. Free plan. Use an email you can confirm.

Step 2: New repository

Click New. Name it something boring like first-app. Leave it empty: no README, no .gitignore, no license. You will add those locally so the first push is clean.

Public is fine. Private is fine. Public is easier to debug with a friend.

Step 3: Get the code onto your laptop

GitHub Desktop (easier): install Desktop, sign in, File → Clone repository, pick first-app, choose a folder you can find again. Documents/code/first-app is better than the Desktop.

Terminal:

Terminal
mkdir -p ~/code
cd ~/code
git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/first-app.git
cd first-app

Replace YOUR-USERNAME. The first clone may open a browser to log in. GitHub now prefers HTTPS + a token or GitHub CLI over a password.

If you would rather use GitHub CLI:

Terminal
gh auth login
gh repo clone YOUR-USERNAME/first-app

Next: gitignore before anyone writes a secret.

Checklist

Saved in this browser. No account. Clearing site data wipes it.

Next: Ignore secrets before you write any

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