Learn the Wonders of Cloning on GitHub in Visual Studio

If you’re a developer or programmer, brace yourself for a quick lesson on cloning projects from GitHub in Visual Studio

Cloning a project from GitHub is a crucial task for anyone working with a team or a community towards a cohesive project.

Here are the steps:

1. Install Git: Start by downloading and installing Git(if not already installed). This version control system is free and open-source, and it helps manage multiple repositories. You can download Git installation from the official Git website.
2. Create Your SSH Key: After you’ve installed Git, the next step is creating an SSH key. This key allows Visual Studio to access your GitHub repositories. You can use Git Bash, command-line tool or Git GUI to generate an SSH key.
3. Open Visual Studio: After creating the SSH key, open the integrated development environment (IDE) for Windows, known as Visual Studio. Click on the “Team Explorer” tab from the menu bar at the top right corner.
4. Click on “Clone” Button: After launching Visual Studio, you will see several options on your screen, which include “Home,” “Projects,” “Repositories,” “Changes,” and “Settings.” Click the “Clone” button under the “Repositories” tab.
5. Enter GitHub Repository URL: After clicking on the “Clone” button, enter the URL of the GitHub repository that you want to clone on a pop-up window. Ensure you enter the correct URL and then click on the “Clone” button.
6. Choose Local Storage: Once entered the GitHub repository URL, you will see another prompt window asking you to choose a local storage location for the cloned repository to save. Pick the location and then click on the “Clone” button.
7. Watch the Cloning Process: The cloning process begins instantly, and depending on the repository’s size, it may take some time to complete. Follow the cloning progress by navigating to the “Team Explorer” tab under “Changes.” You can also see the cloning status, like pending, cloning, or complete.
8. Open Cloned Project: After the cloning process completes, you can open the cloned project by clicking on the “Open” button under the “Changes” tab. Visual Studio will launch with a clean and polished interface so that you can start working on the project.

Cloning a project from GitHub in Visual Studio is a simple yet integral process when collaborating with a team or contributing to open-source projects. By following these steps, you will save time and effort in customizing any build project.