Git Installation Primer

Introduction

Git is a popular version control system that helps developers manage and track changes to their code. It allows multiple people to collaborate on projects by keeping a detailed history of every modification made, making it easy to revert to previous versions if needed. Git is widely used in software development due to its efficiency in handling both small and large projects, and it supports distributed workflows, enabling team members to work independently and merge their changes seamlessly.

To make Git commands available at the command prompt, you need to install Git on your system. Here's the minimum you can do to achieve this:

Installing Git

Download Git

Visit the official Git website and download the Git installer for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

Run the Installer

Run the downloaded installer and follow the installation steps. On Windows, you can accept the default options during installation.

Configuration During Installation

During the installation process, you will encounter several configuration options. Here are the key ones:

Adjusting the PATH Environment

Make sure the option to "Adjusting your PATH environment" is selected. This ensures that Git commands are available in the command prompt. On Windows, you should enable the option "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software."

Choosing the Default Editor

Choose your preferred text editor for Git. The default is usually Vim, but you can select others like Notepad++ or Visual Studio Code.

Configuring the Line Ending Conversions

Choose "Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings" if you're on Windows, or select the appropriate option for your operating system.

Additional Configurations

You can accept the default options for the remaining settings, such as SSL/TLS libraries, and experimental options.

Verify Installation

Open a command prompt (cmd) or PowerShell on Windows, or a terminal on macOS or Linux. You can verify the installation by checking the Git version:

git --version