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How to Maintain a Stable Connection to GitHub in China: Using a VPN for Reliable and Secure Access

GitHub, a web-based platform for code hosting, offers essential Version Control and collaboration features. It hosts millions of projects, spanning diverse programming languages, domains, and applications. Notable contributions on GitHub include OpenAI’s GPT-2, OpenAI Baselines, and Spinning Up in Deep Learning. In China, however, access to GitHub can be inconsistent or blocked due to network restrictions. While options like proxies or GitHub mirror sites exist, employing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) offers the simplest and most effective solution to ensure stable and secure access.

The Best VPN Services for Stable GitHub Access in China
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Understanding GitHub: A Platform for Code Hosting and Collaboration

GitHub, accessible at “https://github.com/”, is a renowned web-based platform for code hosting, offering robust Version Control and collaboration tools. It enables developers to store, manage, and track changes in their code, facilitating seamless collaboration with others. At its core, GitHub utilizes Git as a version control system, simplifying the collaborative process. This is achieved through creating repositories for code projects, managing development through branches, and merging these branches into the main branch when ready.

how-to-maintain-a-stable-connection-to-github

Beyond version control, GitHub encompasses features like issue tracking, code review, and project management, enhancing team communication and efficiency. Its extensive toolset and user-friendly interface have established GitHub as a pivotal hub for both open-source communities and private project development.

Highlighting Top Projects on GitHub

GitHub hosts millions of diverse projects, spanning various programming languages, domains, and applications. It’s a platform where many leading IT companies showcase their products. Below are some of the highly visible and recognized projects on GitHub

Google

  • TensorFlow: An open-source machine learning framework.
  • Flutter: A UI toolkit for building applications across mobile, web, and desktop platforms natively.

Microsoft

  • VSCode(Visual Studio Code): A modern, lightweight code editor.

Facebook

  • React: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces.
  • PyTorch: An open-source deep learning framework.

OpenAI

  • GPT-2: A generative pre-training model utilizing Transformer architecture.
  • OpenAI Baselines: A collection of high-quality benchmarks for research in reinforcement learning.
  • Spinning Up in Deep Learning: Comprehensive resources including documentation, code, and tutorials for deep learning education.
how-to-maintain-a-stable-connection-to-github
Reference: https://github.com/openai

These projects reflect the dynamic and innovative nature of GitHub as a platform, hosting contributions from major players in the technology sector, each aimed at advancing their respective fields.

Is GitHub available in China?

The availability of GitHub in China has seen varying degrees of stability due to network blocking and other regulatory factors. Occasionally, this leads to reduced stability or inaccessibility of the service. However, GitHub has been actively working to enhance its accessibility in China. Collaborating with Chinese Internet Service Providers (ISPs), GitHub strives to offer a more reliable access experience for its users in the region.

What Are the Best Strategies for Maintaining a Stable Connection to GitHub in China?

Developers in China have various strategies at their disposal to enhance GitHub access. A common method is utilizing GitHub’s mirror sites, which often provide more stable connectivity. Alternatively, proxy tools are effective in navigating network restrictions, offering an additional route to access GitHub.

However, these methods can be complex and inconsistent. The most straightforward and reliable solution is the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). VPNs not only facilitate stable access to GitHub but also ensure secure and private connections, simplifying the process of bypassing network barriers.

The Best VPN Services for Stable GitHub Access in China

When considering VPNs for stable access to GitHub in China, the following three services come highly recommended. Each of these VPNs has been rigorously tested within China and has proven to provide a smooth, high-quality internet connection.

Prices1-Month: $12.95
6-Months: $9.99/month
12-Months: $6.67/month
1-Month: $11.99
12-Months: $4.99/month
24-Months: $3.99/month
1-Month: $12.95
12-Months: $3.99/month
24-Months: $2.39/month
Money-back Guarantee30 days30 days30 days
Countries10560100
Servers3,000+5,800+3,200+
Maximum devices supported810Unlimited
Connection SpeedUltra FastFastFast
SecurityAES-256
Kill Switch
AES-256
Kill Switch
AES-256
Kill Switch
PrivacyNo-loggingNo-loggingNo-logging
Support24/7 Live Chat Support24/7 Live Chat Support24/7 Live Chat Support

ExpressVPN: Ultra-fast Internet Speeds

Top page of ExpressVPN
Prices
1-Month: $12.95
6-Months: $9.99/month
12-Months: $6.67/month
Money-back Guarantee30 days
Countries105
Servers3,000+
Maximum devices supported8

ExpressVPN offers some of the fastest internet speeds among the VPNs we have used. All VPNs may slow down your internet connection, but ExpressVPN is one of the fastest, and you rarely notice the difference. Review sites consistently rank ExpressVPN as one of the fastest VPNs. Additionally, with over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, you have a wide choice of countries to change IP addresses to. Real humans are available 24-hour live chat support to help you with setup and troubleshooting. ExpressVPN also has a no-log policy.

After you’ve registered with ExpressVPN, you can use it to easily browse the internet just by downloading their app.

Ideal for those who:
  • Place a high importance on internet speed

\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/

NordVPN:  The Ultimate Balance of Price and Internet Speed

Top page of NordVPN
Prices (standard plan)1-Month: $11.99
12-Months: $4.99/month
24-Months: $3.99/month
Money-back Guarantee30 days
Countries60
Servers5,800+
Maximum devices supported10

NordVPN’s excellent service, and balance of price, internet speed, servers, and countries, has allowed it to gain the greatest market share in the world. Overall, NordVPN consistently receives great reviews from leading experts. NordVPN has more than 5,800 servers in 60 countries, so you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. You can et help and advice from our friendly customer support team through email or live chat for your 24/7. And NordVPN also has a no-log policy.

After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using NordVPN just by downloading their app.

Ideal for those who:
  • Want to balance price and internet speed

\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/

Surfshark: Impressive Performance with a Lower Price

top page or surfsharkvpn
Prices (standard plan)1-Month: $12.95
12-Months: $3.99/month
24-Months: $2.39/month
Money-back Guarantee30 days
Countries100
Servers3,200+
Maximum devices supportedUnlimited

Surfshark offers impressive performance with a lower price. You can get Surfshark much cheaper than other services if you apply for the 24-month plan. Furthermore, Surfshark has no connection limits. So, you and your family can connect and use all your devices simultaneously. Surfshark has more than 3,200 servers in 100 countries. Just like the other VPNs, you also have a lot of choices for which country to change your IP address to. Customer support experts are there for you 24/7, if you need a helping hand with them via live chat or email. And SurfsharkVPN also has a no-log policy.

After you’ve registered, you can easily browse the internet using Surfshark by downloading their app.

Ideal for those:
  • Who are budget conscious and want to want to connect with lots of devices

\30 day Money-Back Guarantee/

FAQ

Is it legal to use a VPN in China?

The use of a VPN may also be restricted by Chinese regulations and policies, so it needs to be used with caution. But as far as individuals are concerned, it is unlikely that they will be caught if they are just accessing the internet across borders, playing games or browsing the web for personal use. >> Is it Legal to Use a VPN in China?

Can I use a free VPN?

We recommend opting for paid VPN services for better privacy and security. Free VPNs may not provide clear information on how they manage log traffic data, and there’s a higher chance they might track your data. Paid VPNs typically offer superior performance, more features, and enhanced security.>> Free VPNs vs. Paid VPNs

Conclusion

In China, access to GitHub can be inconsistent or blocked due to network restrictions. While options like proxies or GitHub mirror sites exist, employing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) offers the simplest and most effective solution to ensure stable and secure access.

The Best VPN Services for Stable GitHub Access in China
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VPN Life is managed and operated by a team of four members: one Japanese (administrator) who has been using VPNs since 2011, two Chinese members, and one Singaporean member. Our articles are written based on 'actual VPN usage experience' and 'global VPN information.

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