**Course Title:** Version Control Systems: Mastering Git **Section Title:** Collaborating with Others **Topic:** Fork a repository, make changes, and create a pull request.(Lab topic) **Introduction** In this lab topic, we will dive into the process of forking a repository, making changes, and creating a pull request. This is an essential workflow for collaborating with others on open-source projects or contributing to existing repositories on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. **Forking a Repository** Forking a repository creates a copy of the original repository under your own account. This allows you to make changes to the repository without affecting the original. **Step-by-Step Process:** 1. Navigate to the repository you want to fork on GitHub (or your preferred Git hosting platform). 2. Click on the "Fork" button in the top-right corner of the repository page. 3. Select your username and organization (if applicable) to create a new fork of the repository. 4. GitHub will create a copy of the repository under your account. **Cloning the Forked Repository** Once you have forked the repository, you need to clone the forked repository to your local machine. 1. Open a terminal or command prompt. 2. Navigate to the directory where you want to clone the repository. 3. Use the `git clone` command to clone the repository: `git clone https://github.com/your-username/repository-name.git` **Making Changes** Now that you have cloned the repository, you can make changes to the code. Remember to always create a new branch for your changes, so you don't commit directly to the master branch. **Step-by-Step Process:** 1. Create a new branch using the `git branch` command: `git branch new-feature` 2. Switch to the new branch using the `git checkout` command: `git checkout new-feature` 3. Make changes to the code. 4. Use the `git status` command to verify the changes: `git status` 5. Use the `git add` command to stage the changes: `git add .` 6. Use the `git commit` command to commit the changes: `git commit -m "Added new feature"` **Pushing Changes** Once you have made changes, you need to push the changes to your forked repository. **Step-by-Step Process:** 1. Use the `git push` command to push the changes to your forked repository: `git push origin new-feature` **Creating a Pull Request** A pull request is a way to notify the original repository owner that you have made changes and would like them to review and merge your changes. **Step-by-Step Process:** 1. Navigate to the original repository on GitHub. 2. Click on the "Compare" button in the top-right corner of the repository page. 3. Select the branch that you want to create the pull request from (new-feature in this case). 4. Click on the "Compare & pull request" button. 5. Fill in the pull request description, and click on the "Create pull request" button. **Tips and Best Practices:** * Always fork a repository before making changes. * Create a new branch for your changes. * Make sure your pull request is concise and descriptive. * Wait for the original repository owner to review and merge your changes. **External Resources:** For more information on forking a repository and creating a pull request, see the GitHub documentation: https://docs.github.com/en/github/collaborating-with-pull-requests/proposing-changes-to-your-work-with-pull-requests https://docs.github.com/en/github/getting-started-with-github/quickstart/forking-a-repository **Leave a comment or ask for help if:** * You have any questions or concerns about the lab topic. * You encounter any errors or issues during the process. * You need help with creating a fork, making changes, or creating a pull request. Please review the next topic: 'Rebasing vs. merging: When to use each' (from Advanced Git Techniques) after completing this lab exercise.