Summary  
This chapter covers using Git to push local code to a remote GitHub repository, including authentication via GitHub’s device flow and managing sensitive files with a .gitignore.  

General domain of usage  
Web application deployment

**GitHub** is a platform for hosting and managing code using version control (Git). It lets developers store projects, track changes, collaborate with others, and share their work online.

Definition

Right now your project lives in a folder on your computer. In order to publish it online you need to move it somewhere a hosting platform can access it. GitHub is that middleman.

Think of GitHub as cloud storage for code. Your files stay on your computer but GitHub keeps a copy that other tools — like the hosting platform we use in the next chapter — can read and deploy from.

GitHub stores your code. Vercel publishes it. We are doing GitHub first.

Note

### What you need to do

1. **Create a GitHub account**
   Go to **github.com** and click **Sign Up**.
   If you already have an account, simply sign in

2. **Ask Claude Code to push your project**
   You do not need to handle GitHub setup manually. Ask Claude Code:

   ```
   How can I get my app published? I have a GitHub account. I want the simplest way to publish the app.
   ```

   Claude Code will guide you through pushing your project to GitHub.
   When prompted to authorize via **github.com/login/device**, follow the steps, enter the code, and click **Approve**

3. **Confirm your project is live on GitHub**
   Once complete, Claude Code will provide a GitHub URL
   Open the link and make sure all your project files are there

### One important thing to know

Your project has a file called .env.local. This is where your API key lives. It is automatically excluded from GitHub by a file called .gitignore. This means your API key stays private and does not get uploaded.

You do not need to do anything here. Claude Code handles this automatically. It is just useful to know why.

Once your code is on GitHub, the next chapter covers deploying it to Vercel so your app is live on the internet with a real URL anyone can visit.


What is the main role of GitHub when deploying your code?

Build and launch a real app in just one weekend using modern AI tools and a simple, practical workflow, using Claude Code to plan, generate, and refine your code, managing your project with GitHub, and deploying your finished app online with Vercel. You’ll start with an idea and quickly turn it into a clear project plan, then move step by step into building a working application, focusing on core features, simple architecture, and fast iteration instead of unnecessary complexity, while learning how to work effectively with AI by writing better prompts, fixing errors, and improving features, ending with a live app, a clean GitHub project, and a repeatable system for turning future ideas into real products faster.

Understand the basics of AI-assisted development, set up your environment, and get familiar with Claude Code before starting your first app.

Turn your idea into a clear, simple plan and define the smallest version of your app that delivers real value.

Go from zero to a running app by generating code with AI, setting up the project, and understanding what was created.

Improve your app by adding features, refining the design, and learning how to fix issues effectively.

Publish your project, make it accessible online, and ensure everything works using GitHub and Vercel.

Pushing Code to GitHub

What you need to do

One important thing to know