Step 2 of 7 , Unit 11
Time to go to GitHub and sign up. This takes about five minutes. The most important decision you make in this step is your username, read the guidance below before you type it in.
Open a new browser tab and go to github.com. You will land on GitHub's homepage. Look for the sign-up form or a green button that says "Sign up for GitHub" or "Sign up".
You will see GitHub's homepage, a dark design with a headline about building software. There may be an email field right on the homepage, or a green "Sign up" button. Either one starts the same sign-up flow.
If you already have a GitHub account, click "Sign in" instead and skip to Step 3.
GitHub will ask for an email address first. Use one you have access to right now, they will send a verification code to it before you can finish signing up. A school email or personal email both work fine.
Create a strong password, at least 15 characters, or at least 8 characters with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Use something you will remember, or save it in a password manager. You will need it every time you log in.
Your username becomes your permanent URL on GitHub and the address of your published portfolio site. Think of it like picking a domain name. Once people know your URL, changing your username will break that link.
Pick something professional that you would be comfortable a hiring manager seeing. Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only, no spaces.
Good examples:
Avoid:
Whatever username you choose, your GitHub Pages site will live at: yourusername.github.io. That is the link that goes on your resume and in internship applications. Make it count.
GitHub shows a quick verification puzzle to confirm you are a human, usually clicking a button or identifying an image. Complete it, then click "Create account" or "Continue".
GitHub will send a short numeric code to your email address. Open your email, find the message from GitHub, and enter the code on the verification screen. This confirms the email address is yours.
If you do not see the email after a minute or two, check your spam folder.
After entering the code, GitHub may ask you a few questions about how you plan to use GitHub (student, developer, etc.) and whether you want to use GitHub for free or pay for a plan.
Choose Free. The free plan is everything you need to publish your site with GitHub Pages.
GitHub may show a welcome survey asking about your experience level and what you want to build. You can answer it or scroll to the bottom and click "Skip personalization", either way works. It does not affect your account.
You now have a GitHub account. You should be looking at your GitHub dashboard, a page that says something like "Start your first repository" or shows a feed of activity. In Step 3 you will create your first repository: the folder in the cloud that will hold your website files.
Write down or save your GitHub username, email, and password somewhere safe before moving on. You will need them every time you log in, and if you forget your username, your portfolio URL becomes harder to find.