🐙 GitHub Certification Journey: Part 1 - GitHub Foundations (GH-900)
Aug 8, 2025
Welcome to the GitHub Certification Journey! This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to master the GitHub Foundations (GH-900) certification. Whether you’re new to Git and GitHub or looking to validate your foundational knowledge, this post provides complete coverage of all exam domains with practical examples and hands-on exercises.
Why GitHub Foundations Certification Matters
The GitHub Foundations certification validates your understanding of Git version control and GitHub collaboration fundamentals. As the entry point to GitHub’s certification pathway, it demonstrates your ability to:
Use Git for version control effectively
Collaborate on projects using GitHub workflows
Manage repositories and understand GitHub’s ecosystem
Apply basic DevOps principles with GitHub tools
Career Impact: This certification opens doors to development, DevOps, and technical roles where Git and GitHub knowledge is essential. It’s particularly valuable for developers, project managers, and anyone working in modern software development environments.
Exam Overview
Exam Details
Duration: 100 minutes
Questions: Approximately 75 questions
Question Types: Multiple choice and scenario-based questions
Passing Score: 700 out of 1000 points
Cost: £99 (may vary by region)
Delivery: Online proctored or at testing centres
Prerequisites: None (foundational level)
What to Expect
The exam tests practical knowledge rather than memorisation. You’ll encounter scenarios about:
Choosing appropriate Git commands for specific situations
Understanding GitHub workflow implications
Solving collaboration challenges
Configuring repository settings appropriately
Skills Measured: Complete Domain Breakdown
Let’s dive deep into each domain, covering every skill you need for exam success.
Domain 1: Introduction to Git and GitHub (22%)
This is the largest domain, focusing on fundamental Git concepts and GitHub navigation.
Understanding Git Basics
What Git Is
Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes in files and coordinates work among multiple people. Key concepts:
Repository (Repo): A directory containing your project files and Git metadata
Commit: A snapshot of your project at a specific point in time
Branch: A parallel version of your repository
Merge: Combining changes from different branches
Basic Git Workflow
The fundamental Git workflow follows this pattern:
Modify files in your working directory
Stage changes using git add
Commit staged changes using git commit
Push commits to remote repository using git push
# Example workflowgit add filename.txt # Stage specific filegit add . # Stage all changesgit commit -m "Add new feature"# Commit with messagegit push origin main # Push to remote repository
Local vs Remote Repositories
Local Repository: Exists on your computer, contains complete project history
Remote Repository: Hosted on GitHub (or other platforms), enables collaboration
Clone: Creates local copy of remote repository
Fork: Creates your own copy of someone else’s repository
Essential Git Commands
Repository Initialisation and Cloning
# Initialise new repositorygit init
# Clone existing repositorygit clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
# Clone to specific directorygit clone https://github.com/username/repository.git my-project
Basic File Operations
# Check repository statusgit status
# Add files to staging areagit add filename.txt # Specific filegit add *.js # All JavaScript filesgit add . # All changes# Commit changesgit commit -m "Descriptive commit message"git commit -am "Add and commit in one step"# For tracked files# View commit historygit log
git log --oneline # Compact formatgit log --graph # Visual representation
Remote Repository Operations
# Add remote repositorygit remote add origin https://github.com/username/repository.git
# View remote repositoriesgit remote -v
# Push changes to remotegit push origin main # Push to main branchgit push -u origin main # Set upstream tracking# Pull changes from remotegit pull origin main # Fetch and mergegit fetch origin # Fetch without merging
Branching and Merging
# Create new branchgit branch feature-branch
git checkout -b feature-branch # Create and switch# Switch branchesgit checkout main
git switch feature-branch # Modern alternative# List branchesgit branch # Local branchesgit branch -r # Remote branchesgit branch -a # All branches# Merge branchesgit checkout main
git merge feature-branch
# Delete branchgit branch -d feature-branch # Delete merged branchgit branch -D feature-branch # Force delete
Navigating GitHub
Account Creation and Setup
Understanding GitHub account types and initial setup:
Personal Account: Free tier includes unlimited public/private repositories
Organization Account: For teams and businesses
GitHub Enterprise: Advanced features for large organisations
Essential Profile Setup:
# Example README.md for profile
## Hi there 👋
I'm a developer passionate about:
- Cloud technologies
- Open source contributions
- DevOps practices
### Current Projects
- [Project Name](link) - Brief description
Repository Management
Key repository concepts for the exam:
Repository Types: Public (visible to everyone) vs Private (restricted access)
# Example custom fields
- Priority: High, Medium, Low
- Story Points: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8
- Component: Frontend, Backend, Database
- Reviewer: Team member assignments
Project Automation
Automated workflow examples:
# Move items based on status- When PR is opened → Move to "In Review"- When issue is closed → Move to "Done"- When issue is labeled "bug" → Set priority to "High"
Integration with Issues and Pull Requests
Linking Work Items
Connecting projects to development work:
# In issue or PR description
Closes #123
Fixes #456
Resolves #789
# Multiple issues
Closes #123, #456, #789
Project Board Integration:
Automatic addition: New issues automatically added
Status synchronisation: Board status reflects issue state
Cross-repository tracking: Issues from multiple repos
Progress Tracking:
Completion percentage: Visual progress indicators
Milestone integration: Align projects with release milestones
Reporting: Progress reports and team analytics
Domain 6: Privacy, Security, and Administration (10%)
Critical security and administrative concepts.
Repository Security
Branch Protection Rules
Essential protections for important branches:
Organization: Top-level container for repositories and teams
Teams: Groups of users with specific permissions
Repositories: Individual project containers
Members: Users with organization access
Creating and Managing Organizations:
# Organization setup considerations- Organization name and description
- Billing and plan selection
- Member invitation and permissions
- Team structure planning
- Repository organization strategy
Organization Security Settings:
Two-factor authentication: Require 2FA for all members
Documentation: README improvements, API documentation
Testing: Test case additions, bug reports
Translation: Localisation and internationalisation
Design: UI/UX improvements, graphics
Good First Issue Practice:
# Example good first issue
## Title: Add dark mode toggle to settings page
## Description
Users have requested a dark mode option. We need to add a toggle
switch to the settings page that switches between light and dark themes.
## Technical Details
- Add toggle component to settings.js
- Update CSS with dark theme variables
- Store preference in localStorage
## Acceptance Criteria
- [ ] Toggle appears in settings
- [ ] Theme switches immediately
- [ ] Preference persists across sessions
Labels: good first issue, enhancement, frontend
GitHub Discussions
Community Engagement
Using Discussions for community building:
Q&A: Community support and knowledge sharing
Ideas: Feature requests and project direction
General: Open-ended community conversations
Show and tell: Community showcases and demos
Discussion Best Practices:
Clear titles: Make discussions discoverable
Detailed descriptions: Provide context and background
# Example community guidelines
## Our Standards
- Be respectful and inclusive
- Stay on topic and relevant
- Help others learn and grow
- Follow the code of conduct
## Reporting Issues
- Use issue templates
- Provide reproducible examples
- Search existing issues first
- Be patient with responses
Community Contribution Culture
Open Source Etiquette
Professional contribution practices:
Read documentation: Understand project goals and conventions
Start with issues: Don’t submit unsolicited major changes
Follow coding standards: Match existing code style
Helpful reviews: Constructive feedback on others’ work
Documentation improvements: Often overlooked but valuable
Community support: Helping other contributors
Maintainer Perspective:
Understanding the maintainer’s role:
Project vision: Maintaining project direction and quality
Community management: Fostering positive contributor environment
Release management: Planning and executing releases
Issue triage: Prioritising and categorising community input
Hands-On Practice Exercises
To solidify your understanding, complete these practical exercises:
Exercise 1: Repository Setup and Basic Git Operations
# Create a new repositorygit init my-practice-repo
cd my-practice-repo
# Create initial filesecho "# My Practice Repository" > README.md
echo "node_modules/" > .gitignore
echo "*.log" >> .gitignore
# Stage and commitgit add .
git commit -m "Initial commit with README and gitignore"# Create and work with branchesgit checkout -b feature-branch
echo "console.log('Hello, GitHub!');" > app.js
git add app.js
git commit -m "Add basic JavaScript file"# Switch back to main and mergegit checkout main
git merge feature-branch
git branch -d feature-branch
Exercise 2: GitHub Workflow Practice
Create a GitHub repository with proper README, LICENSE, and .gitignore
Set up branch protection for the main branch
Create an issue using a template
Create a pull request with proper description and linking to the issue
Review and merge the pull request using different merge strategies
Exercise 3: GitHub Actions Setup
Create a simple CI workflow:
# .github/workflows/practice.ymlname: Practice Workflowon:
push:
branches: [ main ]pull_request:
branches: [ main ]jobs:
practice:
runs-on: ubuntu-lateststeps:
- name: Checkout codeuses: actions/checkout@v3 - name: Print repository inforun: | echo "Repository: ${{ github.repository }}"
echo "Branch: ${{ github.ref }}"
echo "Event: ${{ github.event_name }}"
- name: List filesrun: ls -la
Technical Writer: Documentation and collaboration workflows
Salary Impact:
According to industry surveys, professionals with Git and GitHub skills command 15-25% higher salaries than those without version control experience.
Certification Pathway
Next Recommended Certifications:
For Developers: GitHub Actions (GH-200) or GitHub Copilot (GH-300)
For DevOps Engineers: GitHub Actions (GH-200) then GitHub Administration (GH-100)
For Administrators: GitHub Administration (GH-100)
For Security Professionals: GitHub Administration (GH-100) then GitHub Advanced Security (GH-500)
Continuing Education
Stay Current:
GitHub Blog: Follow product updates and new features
GitHub Universe: Annual conference with latest announcements
Release Notes: Stay updated with new GitHub capabilities
Community Discussions: Engage with other professionals
Conclusion
The GitHub Foundations (GH-900) certification validates essential skills for modern software development and collaboration. By mastering Git version control, GitHub workflows, project management, and community participation, you’ll build a strong foundation for advanced GitHub certifications and enhance your career prospects.
Key Takeaways:
Git fundamentals are essential for all development work
GitHub collaboration enables effective team development
Project management features streamline development workflows
Security practices protect code and communities
Community engagement accelerates learning and career growth
Next Steps:
Complete hands-on exercises to reinforce learning
Practice with real repositories to gain experience
Schedule your exam when you feel confident
Plan your next certification based on career goals
Remember: The exam tests practical application, not memorisation. Focus on understanding workflows and real-world scenarios rather than memorising commands. Good luck with your GitHub Foundations certification journey!
Ready to take the next step in your GitHub certification journey? Check out our upcoming posts covering GitHub Administration (GH-100) and GitHub Actions (GH-200) certifications.
