GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket?

GitHub is the industry standard with the largest community and best integrations. GitLab offers more built-in DevOps features. Bitbucket integrates well with Atlassian tools. Most startups choose GitHub for its ecosystem and developer familiarity.

Do I need to pay for GitHub?

No, GitHub's free tier is generous: unlimited public and private repos, unlimited collaborators, and 2,000 CI/CD minutes per month. Paid plans add advanced security, compliance features, and more CI minutes.

What is the difference between Git and GitHub?

Git is the version control software that runs locally. GitHub is a cloud platform that hosts Git repositories and adds collaboration features like pull requests, issues, and project boards.

How should I structure my repositories?

Start with one repo per project or service. Monorepos (one repo for everything) work for small teams. As you grow, separate repos per service with clear boundaries. Avoid repo sprawl—consolidate related code.

What branching strategy should I use?

Start simple: main branch for production, feature branches for work in progress. GitHub Flow works for most startups. Git Flow is more complex and suited for release-based workflows. Pick one strategy and be consistent.

How do pull requests work?

Developers create branches for changes, push to GitHub, and open pull requests. Teammates review the code, leave comments, and approve. Once approved, the code merges to main. PRs prevent bugs and spread knowledge.

Should I require code reviews?

Yes, even for solo founders—reviewing your own code after a break catches bugs. For teams, require at least one approval before merging. Code reviews improve quality and share context across the team.

How do I handle sensitive data like API keys?

Never commit secrets to Git. Use environment variables and .gitignore to exclude .env files. Use GitHub's secret scanning to catch accidental commits. Store secrets in your CI/CD platform or a secrets manager.

What should I put in my README?

Project description, setup instructions, how to run locally, how to contribute, and contact info. A good README is the first thing new team members and contributors see. Keep it updated.

How do I recover deleted or overwritten code?

Git tracks everything. Use git log to find commits, git checkout to restore files, and git revert to undo changes. GitHub keeps deleted branches for a while. This safety net is why version control is essential.

What are GitHub Actions?

GitHub's built-in CI/CD system. Automatically run tests, deploy code, or perform other tasks when you push code or open PRs. Free tier includes 2,000 minutes per month—plenty for most startups.

Should I make my repository public or private?

Private for proprietary business code. Public for open source projects, libraries, or developer tools. Some startups build in public for transparency and community, but protect your competitive advantages.

How do I manage access for team members?

Create a GitHub organization for your company. Add team members with appropriate roles (admin, write, read). Use teams to group access. Remove access immediately when someone leaves.

What is a .gitignore file?

A file that tells Git which files to ignore: node_modules, .env files, build outputs, IDE settings. Use templates for your language/framework. Never commit files that can be regenerated or contain secrets.

How often should I commit?

Commit early and often—small, logical units of work. Each commit should be one coherent change with a clear message. Avoid giant commits that mix unrelated changes. This makes history useful and debugging easier.

What makes a good commit message?

Start with a short summary (50 chars), optionally followed by a blank line and detailed description. Use imperative mood ("Add feature" not "Added feature"). Reference issue numbers. Future you will thank present you.

How do I handle merge conflicts?

Conflicts occur when two branches modify the same lines. Git marks the conflicts; you manually choose which changes to keep. Pull main frequently to minimize conflicts. Use VS Code or similar tools for visual conflict resolution.

Should I use GitHub Issues or a separate tool?

GitHub Issues works well for small teams and developer-centric work. Larger teams or non-technical stakeholders may prefer Jira, Linear, or Notion. The best tool is one your whole team will actually use.

Back to all problems

Solution illustration for I need version control and code collaboration

Critical Priority

Best Version Control & Code Collaboration Platforms for Startups

Never lose code again—track every change, collaborate safely.

1-2 hours

Founder, Technical

About This Problem

Version control is the foundation of modern software development. It tracks changes, enables collaboration, and prevents code loss. Every technical startup needs Git and a platform to host repositories.

You might have this problem if:

✓Multiple developers overwriting each other's code
✓No way to track what changed and when
✓Difficult to roll back broken changes
✓Code lives only on individual laptops
✓No code review process in place

Success Looks Like

All code in version-controlled repositories
Team using branches and pull requests
Code review process established

Relevant For

pre-launch stagelaunch stagegrowth stagescale stage

Setting up version control for your startup is the foundation of professional software development. Git tracks every change, enables safe collaboration across your team, and protects against code loss. Whether you are a solo technical founder or building a dev team, choosing the right hosting platform for your repositories matters. Compare GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket to find the best fit for your workflow and budget.