To collaborate on GitHub-hosted repositories, you need a GitHub account. If you do not yet have one, start with GitHub’s official instructions:
Choose a professional username¶
Your username becomes part of your public GitHub identity and appears in repository URLs, pull requests, and issue discussions. It is usually worth choosing a name you would be comfortable showing on a resume or in a professional collaboration.
Start with a personal account¶
Most new contributors should begin with a personal GitHub account. Organizations such as PSLmodels can then invite that account into repositories or teams when appropriate.
Turn on two-factor authentication¶
If you plan to contribute regularly, enabling two-factor authentication is a very good idea. Many organizations require it, and it significantly improves account security.
Set up your profile¶
A fully polished GitHub profile is not required before making your first contribution, but a few simple steps help collaborators know who you are:
add your name
add a short bio if you want
add a profile picture
optionally link a website or institution
Decide how you will authenticate from the command line¶
Creating the GitHub account is not enough by itself. To push from your local machine, you also need an authentication method for Git operations.
The two most common choices are:
HTTPS with a credential manager or personal access token
SSH keys
Both approaches work. What matters most is that you configure one of them and test it before you are in the middle of opening your first pull request.
Good first account steps for contributors¶
After creating your account:
confirm your email address
enable two-factor authentication
set up command-line authentication
visit a repository you care about and practice forking it
That sequence makes the jump from “I have an account” to “I am ready to contribute” much smoother.