Overview and Purpose
This session and learning resource have been created in response to feedback from Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) seeking greater confidence and clarity around using GitHub, a key platform supporting collaboration across Open Digital Planning (ODP) projects.
Whether you're completely new to GitHub or looking for a quick refresher, this session was designed to help demystify the basics and show you how GitHub supports open, collaborative work on things like planning data standards and product development.
Why GitHub?
GitHub is a widely used platform that enables teams to collaborate on code, data standards, and documentation. It helps us:
- Track every change with full version control
- Collaborate openly through issues and discussions
- Ensure transparency and maintain a single source of truth
- Work more efficiently as a distributed community
Most GOV.UK services and commercial teams already use GitHub, making it a valuable tool for joining wider digital transformation efforts.
What You’ll Learn
This introductory session covers:
- What GitHub is and why it’s used in ODP
- How to find and navigate the Planning Application Data Specification repository
- Understanding version control and repository structure
- How to contribute to or review work (e.g. issues, discussions, files)
No technical background is required.