{
  "id": 2572231,
  "title": "My First GitHub Project: From a Local Folder to GitHub Using Git and SSH",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/my-first-github-project-from-a-local-folder-to-github-using-git-and-2572231",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-22T12:14:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/karianjahi/my-first-github-project-from-a-local-folder-to-github-using-git-and-ssh-hlf"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This article describes the author's initial experience of uploading a local folder of health data to GitHub using Git and SSH. The tools utilized include GitHub, a platform for storing and sharing Git repositories, Git, a version control system that records changes, and SSH, a secure method for authenticating access to GitHub.\n\nTo begin, the author opens GitBash and determines the present directory using the pwd command, which stands for print working directory. They then check the contents of the directory with the ls command. Subsequently, they navigate to their Desktop with cd Desktop and create a project folder called kenya-health-records using the mkdir command.\n\nThe author confirms the creation of the folder by running ls again, and then enters the project folder with cd kenya-health-records. They verify the project's existence with pwd. Next, they set up the project's structure by creating three folders – data, notebooks, and scripts – using mkdir.\n\nThe author then imports a dataset of hospital records, which is already present on their computer in the Downloads folder. They copy the dataset to the data folder within their project using the copy command. To verify the dataset's addition, they use ls data. Lastly, they add content to the README.md file, which provides an overview of the project, the tools used, and the challenges encountered.\n\nUpon completing the README.md file, the author checks its contents with cat README.md. They then initialize the project with Git by running git init, which transforms the directory into a Git repository. The author checks the project's status with git status, as Git recognizes the files as untracked.\n\nThe author stages the project with git add and checks the status again with git status. They then create the first commit using git commit -m \"Add kenya hospital project,\" where -m stands for message and provides a brief description of the committed changes. To review the project's history, they run git log --online.\n\nTo establish a shorter project history, the author renames the branch from master to main with git branch -M main and checks the branch with git branch. They then create a new remote repository on GitHub by opening a web browser and navigating to GitHub. They create a new repository named kenya health project, add a short description, and select it as a public repository.\n\nAfter creating the repository, GitHub displays connection options. The author selects SSH, which generates an address like git@github.com:karianjahi8/kenya-health-records.git. They return to the GitBash terminal and run git remote add origin git@github.com:karianjahi8/kenya-health-records.git, which links the local project with the remote GitHub repository. They then push the project to GitHub using git push -u origin main, which sends the committed changes from their computer to the remote repository. The -u option sets an upstream relationship, origin is the nickname for the main remote repository, and main is the branch being uploaded.\n\nFinally, the author verifies the project's presence on GitHub by refreshing their browser, where they can see the newly uploaded project. The article concludes by highlighting that setting up a project on GitHub involves managing Git's local history and securely authenticating with SSH.",
  "summary": "Introduction This article is a walk through of my first project where I pushed a local folder containing health data to Github using Git and SSH. Tools used Github - This is an online service where you can store Git repositories and it makes it possible to share and collaborate on projects. Git - This is a version control system that runs on your computer and keeps track of changes made to your…",
  "key_points": [
    "Author uploads local health data folder to GitHub using Git and SSH.",
    "Sets up project structure with data, notebooks, and scripts folders.",
    "Initializes Git repository, stages files, and pushes to GitHub via SSH."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dev.to",
        "title": "# MY FIRST GITHUB PROJECT: FROM A LOCAL FOLDER TO GITHUB USING GIT AND SSH.",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/22/my-first-github-project-from-a-local-folder-to-github-using-git-and",
        "published": "2026-08-22T08:37:21.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}