GH-900 Questions and Answers

After 30 minutes of inactivity, a GitHub Codespace will time out. This is designed to conserve resources when the Codespace is not being actively used. The session will be paused, and you'll need to reconnect to resume your work. However, the Codespace is not deleted, and any unsaved changes might not be lost but should be committed or saved to prevent data loss.

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The primary purpose of creating a security policy in a GitHub repository is to guide users and contributors on how to report security vulnerabilities in a responsible and secure manner. This policy outlines the preferred method of communication, timelines, and any other pertinent information related to handling security issues.

Security Policy:

Option C is correct because a security policy provides guidelines for responsibly disclosing security vulnerabilities. This helps maintainers respond to and address security concerns promptly and securely, thereby protecting the project and its users.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because ensuring peer code review is a best practice for code quality, but it is not the primary purpose of a security policy.

Option B is incorrect because push protection for secrets is managed through repository settings, not the security policy.

Option D is incorrect because customizing Dependabot configuration is related to dependency management, not directly to security policies.

GitHub Enterprise Cloud with Enterprise Managed Users (EMU) integrates closely with an organization's identity provider (IdP), such as Azure Active Directory, to manage user accounts. The primary benefit of this setup is centralized control and streamlined management. It allows organizations to enforce policies, manage user permissions, and provision or deprovision accounts directly through their IdP, ensuring consistency and security across the organization. This approach is ideal for large enterprises that require tight control over their users and resources.

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The qualifier mentions: is used in GitHub's search functionality to find issues that mention a certain user. For example, if you want to find all issues where a specific user is mentioned, you would use mentions:username. This helps in tracking where a user has been involved in discussions across issues or pull requests.

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GitHub provides repository admins with a feature called "Insights" where they can view various pre-built visualizations and analytics related to the repository.

Insights:

Option C is correct because the "Insights" tab in a GitHub repository offers various pre-built visualizations, including contributions, traffic, code frequency, dependency graphs, and more. This helps admins and maintainers track the project's activity and health.

Other Options:

Option A (Settings) is incorrect because the Settings tab is where you configure repository settings, permissions, and integrations, but it does not provide visualizations of repository data.

Option B (Issues) is incorrect because the Issues tab is used for tracking bugs, enhancements, and other tasks but does not provide data visualizations.

Option D (Charts) is incorrect as there is no "Charts" tab or section in GitHub. The correct location for data visualizations is under "Insights."

Commits and pull requests (PRs) are fundamental concepts in Git and GitHub workflows, particularly in collaborative software development.

Commits:

Commits are individual changes or updates made to the codebase. Each commit is identified by a unique SHA-1 hash and typically includes a commit message describing the changes.

Commits are made to a specific branch in the repository. The branch could be the main branch, or more commonly, a feature branch created for specific work or a feature.

Pull Requests (PRs):

A pull request is a mechanism for developers to notify team members that a branch is ready to be merged into another branch, usually the main branch.

PRs are used to review code, discuss changes, and make improvements before the branch is merged into the target branch.

Relationship Between Commits and PRs:

Option A is correct because commits are made on a branch, and this branch can have a pull request associated with it. The pull request tracks the branch’s commits and allows for code review before merging into the target branch.

Commits can be added to the branch both before and after the pull request is created. Any new commits pushed to the branch are automatically included in the pull request.

Incorrect Options:

Option B is incorrect because commits can be made both before and after a pull request is created.

Option C is incorrect because it suggests that commits can only be made before a pull request is created, which is not true.

Option D is incorrect because commits are not made on a pull request; they are made on a branch. The pull request links a branch to another branch (e.g., feature branch to the main branch).

Creating a repository template in GitHub requires specific steps and permissions:

Creating a Repository Template:

Option A is correct because a user with Admin permissions can navigate to the repository's settings and enable the "Template Repository" option. This allows other users to generate new repositories from this template, which includes all branches, tags, and file history.

Other Options:

Option B is incorrect because "Maintain" permissions do not allow the creation of repository templates, and the option is not found in Organization settings but in the repository settings.

Option C is incorrect because the "Template Repository" option is in the repository settings, not in Organization settings.

Option D is incorrect because "Maintain" permissions do not grant the ability to create a repository template.

Pull requests are created to propose changes from one branch to another. These branches must be different; otherwise, there would be no changes to propose. Typically, pull requests are made from a feature or topic branch to a main branch (such as main or master), allowing for code review and integration before the changes are merged.

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To contribute to a GitHub repository, a user typically needs to be able to create branches, push changes, and open pull requests. These actions require Write access, which is the minimum level of access needed to contribute code directly to a repository.

Write Access:

Option D is correct because "Write" access allows users to contribute to the repository by pushing changes, creating branches, and opening pull requests. This is the minimum required access level for contributing code.

Incorrect Options:

Option A (Read) is incorrect because "Read" access only allows viewing the repository, not making changes.

Option B (Triage) is incorrect because while Triage access allows managing issues and pull requests, it does not allow pushing code.

Option C (Maintain) is incorrect because "Maintain" access includes additional permissions beyond those needed for basic contributions, such as managing repository settings.

GitHub Desktop is a graphical interface that allows users to interact with GitHub repositories. It simplifies certain Git operations without the need for command-line usage.

GitHub Desktop Capabilities:

Option C is correct because GitHub Desktop allows users to add local repositories to their GitHub account, clone repositories from GitHub to their local machine, and manage repositories effectively.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because GitHub Desktop does not support creating or managing issues directly; this is done through the GitHub web interface.

Option B is incorrect because reviewing and approving pull requests is also managed through the GitHub web interface.

Option D is incorrect because commenting on discussions is done on the GitHub platform, not through GitHub Desktop.

Option E is incorrect because GitHub Desktop does not integrate with office suite software.

It is recommended to deploy from your feature branch before merging into the main branch to ensure the changes are verified and validated in a production environment. This practice helps in identifying any potential issues or bugs in a real-world scenario before the changes are permanently integrated into the main branch. By deploying from the feature branch, developers can catch and address issues early, reducing the risk of introducing bugs into the main branch, which is usually considered the stable branch.

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The Codespaces lifecycle on GitHub includes several key steps:

Create: This is the step where a new Codespace is initiated.

Rebuild: A Codespace can be rebuilt to ensure that the environment is up-to-date with the latest code or configurations.

Delete: Once a Codespace is no longer needed, it can be deleted to free up resources.

Committing, cloning, or installing are typical Git operations but are not considered part of the specific lifecycle steps for a GitHub Codespace.

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On GitHub, certain actions automatically subscribe you to conversations so that you receive notifications about further activity in that thread.

Opening a Pull Request or Issue:

Option C is correct because when you open a pull request or issue, you are automatically subscribed to the conversation and will receive notifications for any updates.

Commenting on a Thread:

Option D is correct because commenting on an issue or pull request automatically subscribes you to that thread, ensuring you are notified of further comments or changes.

Being Assigned to an Issue or Pull Request:

Option E is correct because when you are assigned to an issue or pull request, you are automatically subscribed to notifications related to it.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is incorrect because pushing a commit to the default branch does not automatically subscribe you to conversations.

Option B is incorrect because being added as a repo admin does not automatically subscribe you to specific conversations unless you engage with them.

A distributed version control system (DVCS) like Git is best described as a system that ensures each developer has their own local copy of the entire code repository, including the complete project history and metadata. This decentralized approach allows developers to work independently, with full access to the project's history and files, and later synchronize their changes with others. Unlike centralized systems, DVCS does not rely on a single central server, which provides greater flexibility and robustness in collaboration.

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A GitHub repository serves as a collaborative space where developers can share and manage code files, track changes, and store revision history. It is much more than just a folder or simple tool; it is a comprehensive version control system that allows teams to collaborate effectively on codebases. Repositories enable developers to work together, manage contributions, review code, and maintain a complete history of every change made to the project.

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In GitHub, labels are used to categorize issues and pull requests, and certain default labels are provided to help manage tasks:

Help Wanted Label:

Option C is correct. The "Help wanted" label is used to indicate that the maintainer of the repository needs assistance on a particular issue or pull request. This label helps in attracting contributors who might be interested in helping with specific tasks.

Other Options:

Option A ("Enhancement") is incorrect because it indicates a request for a new feature or improvement rather than a call for help.

Option B ("Question") is incorrect because it is used to flag issues or pull requests that seek clarification or additional information, not necessarily requiring assistance.

Option D ("Documentation") is incorrect because it labels issues or PRs related to documentation, not for seeking help.

GitHub Desktop is a standalone application that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for interacting with GitHub repositories, as opposed to the command-line or web-based interfaces available on github.com.

Graphical User Interface:

Option D is correct because GitHub Desktop offers a GUI, making it easier for users to manage repositories, perform commits, and handle other Git-related tasks without needing to use the command line.

Incorrect Options:

Option A is partially correct in that GitHub Desktop is a standalone application, but the key difference is the GUI.

Option B is incorrect because GitHub Desktop does not specifically enable integration with office suite applications.

Option C is incorrect because GitHub Desktop is available on both Windows and macOS.

Option E is incorrect because GitHub Desktop is not a self-hosted version of GitHub; it is a client application for accessing GitHub repositories.