INFO 5001 Application Modeling and Design - Instructions & Guides

GitHub Repository Lifecycle Guide

Important: Preserving Your Course Work

GitHub Classroom repositories created for this course are temporary and will be deleted after the course ends. To keep your work for your portfolio or future reference, you need to transfer it to your personal GitHub account.

Why Should You Keep Your Work?

• Portfolio Development: Showcase your coding projects to potential employers
• Reference Material: Revisit your solutions for future coursework or projects
• Professional Growth: Track your progression as a developer
• Knowledge Base: Build your personal library of coding patterns and solutions

---

When Will Repositories Be Deleted?

• Course repositories are typically maintained for 3 months after the course end date
• After this period, all content will be permanently deleted without further notice
• This applies to all assignments, projects, and other repositories created via GitHub Classroom

---

How to Preserve Your Work

There are three main methods to preserve your work. Choose the approach that works best for you:

Method 1: Create a New Repository (Recommended)

This method preserves your entire project history and structure:

1. Create a new personal repository:

   • Go to GitHub and log in
   • Click the “+” icon in the top-right corner and select “New repository”
   • Name your repository (e.g., “INFO5001-Project-Portfolio”)
   • Choose “Public” or “Private” visibility
   • Do NOT initialize with README, .gitignore, or license
   • Click “Create repository”

2. Clone your classroom repository locally (if you haven’t already):

   git clone https://github.com/classroom-org/your-assignment-repo.git
   cd your-assignment-repo
   

3. Change the remote URL to your new repository:

   git remote set-url origin https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/YOUR-NEW-REPO.git
   

4. Push everything to your new repository:

   git push -u origin main
   

Method 2: Copy Selected Files

If you only want to preserve specific files or the latest version:

1. Create a new repository as described in Method 1

2. Download your classroom repository as a ZIP file:

   • Go to your classroom repository on GitHub
   • Click the green “Code” button
   • Select “Download ZIP”

3. Unzip and copy the files to your local computer

4. Clone your new personal repository:

   git clone https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/YOUR-NEW-REPO.git
   cd YOUR-NEW-REPO
   

5. Copy your files into this new repository directory

6. Commit and push your files:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Preserved files from INFO5001 course"
   git push origin main
   

---

Preserving Multiple Repositories

If you have multiple assignments or projects to preserve:

Option 1: Create Separate Repositories

• Create individual repositories for each project
• Follow Method 1 or 2 above for each repository
• This keeps projects distinct and easily identifiable

Option 2: Create One Portfolio Repository with Subfolders

1. Create one main repository (e.g., “INFO5001-Portfolio”)

2. Create a folder structure in your new repository:

   INFO5001-Portfolio/
   ├── Assignment1/
   ├── Assignment2/
   ├── Project1/
   └── Project2/
   

3. Copy files from each classroom repository into the appropriate folders

4. Commit and push each addition separately:

   git add Assignment1
   git commit -m "Add Assignment 1 to portfolio"
   git push
   
   git add Assignment2
   git commit -m "Add Assignment 2 to portfolio"
   git push
   

---

Additional Tips

1. Clean up before preserving:

   • Remove unnecessary files (compiled code, temporary files)
   • Update README files to explain the project context

2. Add documentation:

   • Create a brief description of what you learned
   • Note any interesting challenges you overcame
   • Include screenshots of the application if applicable

3. Update visibility settings if needed:

   • Private repositories are good for sensitive or incomplete work
   • Public repositories are better for portfolios you want to share

4. Add a license if you plan to make your code public:

   • Go to your repository on GitHub
   • Click “Add file” > “Create new file”
   • Name it “LICENSE”
   • Click “Choose a license template” and select one (MIT is common for personal projects)

---

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Authentication Errors

If you see “Authentication failed” when pushing to your new repository:

• Ensure you’re using a personal access token or SSH key
• Create a personal access token at GitHub > Settings > Developer Settings > Personal Access Tokens
• Use this token when prompted for a password

“Repository not found” Error

• Double-check the URL of your new repository
• Make sure you’ve created the repository on GitHub
• Verify that you have the correct username in the URL

Unable to Push (“rejected” errors)

• Try pulling changes first: git pull --rebase origin main
• Force push if needed (use with caution): git push -f origin main

---

Remember: It’s YOUR responsibility to preserve your work before the deletion deadline. Set a reminder to complete this process before the 3-month post-course period ends.