This page describes one way to use GitHub for personal use under Eclipse. It uses a different repository for each course.

1. Create a GitHub account if you don't have one.
2. Login to GitHub.
3. Create a new repository for the course (e.g., with a repository name of cs999).
4. Click on “.gitignore template” and select “None”.
5. Click on Create repository.
6. Click on “.gitignore” in the Quick setup area to create such a file.
7. Add the following to the file:

# Byte Code #
*.class

# Eclipse #
.settings/
bin/
tmp/
.metadata
.classpath
.project
*.tmp
*.bak
*.swp
*~.nib
local.properties
.loadpath
.factorypath
.checkstyle

# Log Files #
*.log

# OS X #
.DS_Store


# Package Files #
*.jar
*.war
*.nar
*.ear
*.zip
*.tar.gz
*.rar

# Virtual Machine Crash Logs (see http://www.java.com/en/download/help/error_hotspot.xml) #
hs_err_pid*

Then, click on [Commit new file].

At this point you should also create a Personal Access Token (see https://docs.github.com/en/authentication/keeping-your-account-and-data-secure/creating-a-personal-access-token).

1. Create a directory/folder for the course (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999).
2. Create a directory/folder for the Eclipse workspace for the course (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999/eclipse). Don't use the course directory/folder, create a sub directory/folder in the course directory/folder.
3. Create a directory/folder for the Git repository for the course (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999/git). Again, don't use the course directory/folder (create a sub directory/folder in the course directory/folder), don't use the workspace folder, and don't put the repository folder inside of the workspace folder.

1. Start Eclipse. When asked for the workspace to use, browse to the directory/folder you just created for this purpose (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999/eclipse).
2. Setup the workspace as needed (e.g., add a Checkstyle checks file, add a formatter).
3. Open the Git Perspective.
4. Click on “Clone a Git repository”. When asked for the “Repository directory” to use, browse to the directory/folder you created for this purpose (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999/git).
5. Enter the GitHub URI (e.g., https://github.com/bernstdh/cs999) in the “URI:” field.
6. Enter your GitHub user name in the “User:” field.
7. Enter your Personal Access Token in the “Password” field.
8. Click on Next>.
9. Select “main” if it isn't already.
10. Click on Next>.
11. Enter the name of the the directory/folder you created for the Git repository for this course (e.g.,/home/bernstdh/cs999/git) in the “Directory:” field. (Note: Be careful if you use the [Browse] button as it will add additional subdirectories. They won't break anything but they will make the directory structure more confusing.)
12. Make sure the “Remote name:” is origin.
13. Click in Finish.

1. Start Eclipse.
2. Open the “Java Perspective”.
3. Create the new project.
4. Add the project to source control by right-clicking on the package name, pulling down to [Team] and across to [Share project]. Note: At this point, a directory/folder with the name of the project will be added to the workspace.
5. Click on the “Repository:” dropdown and select the Git repository for this course (e.g., /home/bernstdh/cs999/git).
6. Click on Finish. Note: At this point, the directory/folder for the project will be moved from the worskapce directory/folder to the Git respoitory folder/directory.
7. Commit and push as needed.

1. Start Eclipse.
2. Open the Git Perspective.
3. Expand the repository (e.g., git).
4. Expand the “Working Tree”.
5. Right-click on the directory/folder icon for the project.
6. Pull-down to Import Projects….
7. Click on Finish.