this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2025
20 points (88.5% liked)

Linux

11130 readers
258 users here now

Welcome to c/linux!

Welcome to our thriving Linux community! Whether you're a seasoned Linux enthusiast or just starting your journey, we're excited to have you here. Explore, learn, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for open-source software and the endless possibilities it offers. Together, let's dive into the world of Linux and embrace the power of freedom, customization, and innovation. Enjoy your stay and feel free to join the vibrant discussions that await you!

Rules:

  1. Stay on topic: Posts and discussions should be related to Linux, open source software, and related technologies.

  2. Be respectful: Treat fellow community members with respect and courtesy.

  3. Quality over quantity: Share informative and thought-provoking content.

  4. No spam or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion or spamming.

  5. No NSFW adult content

  6. Follow general lemmy guidelines.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I feel super dumb asking this. But what actually is and how does github (or similar sites) work? Are they all just source files one needs to manually compile? I am always confused when I look at a github page. I know some have directions but they still go way over my head sometimes. Im not a total noob but some of this stuff seems like you need to be in programming and have an IDE just to run a program.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] cyborganism@piefed.ca 12 points 2 days ago

It's mainly a developer tool based on Git, a version control system. You know how to can go back to a previous version of a document in Google Docs for example? It's kinda like that, but more powerful.

Github adds a whole layer around Git with issue tracking and other project management tools, as well as automation tools to name a few.

It's mostly used to track progress and change history of source code. So when you clone a Github repo to your local machine, you essentially get a copy of the files and their entire change history along with it.

So yes, you might need to compile the source code, depending on the programming language used.