Git + GitHub + Auto Deployment Quick Reference

1. Install Git

Download and install Git for Windows.

Verify:

git --version

2. Check Current Git User

git config --global user.name
git config --global user.email

See all settings:

git config --global --list

3. Set Correct User

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

4. Remove Existing GitHub Login

Create file:

echo protocol=https>cred.txt
echo host=github.com>>cred.txt

Verify:

type cred.txt

Remove cached credentials:

type cred.txt | git credential-manager erase

Delete temporary file:

del cred.txt

5. Create Repository in GitHub

Example:

https://github.com/dotgirish/timetable

Create as Private or Public.

6. Configure Existing PHP Folder

Go to project folder:

cd "D:\AI\AI Coding\timetable"

Initialize Git:

git init

7. Connect Folder To GitHub

git remote add origin https://github.com/dotgirish/timetable.git

Verify:

git remote -v

8. First Upload

git add .
git commit -m "Initial Commit"
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

GitHub will ask for authentication.

Login with correct GitHub account.

9. Daily Upload

git add .
git commit -m "Description"
git push

10. Create GitHub Secrets in github.com

Repository ==> Settings ==> Secrets and variables ==>Actions –> Repository Secrets

Create:

FTP_SERVER  (something like ftp.server.com)
FTP_USERNAME
FTP_PASSWORD

PHASE 1 : AUTO DEPLOY FROM MAIN BRANCH

11. Create Deployment Workflow (on local windows)

Create: (in local windows D:\AI\AI Coding\timetable\.github)

.github\workflows\deploy.yml

Example:  (check server-dir session and make adjustments)

name: Deploy PHP Site

on:
push:
branches:
– main

jobs:
ftp-deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest

steps:

– name: Checkout
uses: actions/checkout@v4

– name: FTP Deploy
uses: SamKirkland/FTP-Deploy-Action@v4.3.5
with:
server: ${{ secrets.FTP_SERVER }}
username: ${{ secrets.FTP_USERNAME }}
password: ${{ secrets.FTP_PASSWORD }}

server-dir: public_html/girishg.net/timetable/

Commit:

git add .
git commit -m "Added deployment workflow"
git push

12. Development + Deployment Workflow

Work normally:

git add .
git commit -m "New Feature"
git push

Result:

Windows PC
      ↓
GitHub main
      ↓
GitHub Actions
      ↓
FTP Upload
      ↓
HostGator Server

Website updates automatically.

13. Verify Deployment

GitHub Repository

Actions

Open latest run.

Status:

🟡 Running
✅ Success
❌ Failed

Open:

ftp-deploy
→ FTP Deploy

View upload log.

14. Temporarily Disable Deployment

GitHub

Now:

git push

Only updates GitHub.

No deployment.

15. Re-enable Deployment

GitHub

Actions

Deploy PHP Site

Enable Workflow

PHASE 2 : INTRODUCE PRODUCTION BRANCH

Current Flow:

Windows
   ↓
main
   ↓
Deploy
   ↓
Server

Target Flow:

Windows
   ↓
main
   ↓
production
   ↓
Deploy
   ↓
Server

16. Create Production Branch

git checkout -b production
git push -u origin production

Return to main:

git checkout main

17. Change Deployment Branch

Edit:

name: Deploy PHP Site

on:
push:
branches:
– production

jobs:
ftp-deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest

steps:

– name: Checkout
uses: actions/checkout@v4

– name: FTP Deploy
uses: SamKirkland/FTP-Deploy-Action@v4.3.5
with:
server: ${{ secrets.FTP_SERVER }}
username: ${{ secrets.FTP_USERNAME }}
password: ${{ secrets.FTP_PASSWORD }}

server-dir: public_html/girishg.net/timetable/

git add .
git commit -m "Deploy only from production"
git push

18. New Development Workflow

Work normally:

git checkout main

git add .
git commit -m "New Feature"
git push

Result:

Windows
   ↓
GitHub main

No deployment.

19. Deploy To Server

When ready:

git checkout production
git merge main
git push

Result:

Windows
   ↓
production
   ↓
GitHub Actions
   ↓
FTP Upload
   ↓
HostGator Server

Website updated.

20. Rollback

View history:

git log --oneline

Undo a commit:

git revert COMMIT_ID
git push

If deployment is from:

main

push to main.

If deployment is from:

production

push to production.

21. Useful Commands

Current branch:

git branch

Switch branch:

git checkout main

git checkout production

Status:

git status

History:

git log --oneline

Remote URL:

git remote -v