GitHub is a cloud-based repository with a web-based interface for anyone to use to collaborate on projects through building, downloading and providing feedback on code. A social layer is added to the distributed version control system, allowing users to create branches or forks of code, submit bugs (and fixes), watch or tag favorite projects, as well as create documentation for projects and code.

GitHub allows users in different organizations, cities or countries to create and share code. It is geared toward those who embrace the Open Source movement, so it is imperative to review organizational requirements and constraints around code sharing and the licensing that will be applied to any code that is distributed on GitHub.