Git Setup and Initialization on Windows

Git Setup and Initialization on Windows

To set up Git on a Windows machine, follow these steps:

Step 1: Install Git

1. Download Git:

   • Go to the Git for Windows website.

   • Download the installer for Windows.

2. Install Git:

   • Run the downloaded installer.

   • Follow the installation steps:

     • Choose the default editor (e.g., Nano or VS Code).

     • Adjust your PATH environment:

       • Select "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software."

     • Configure line-ending conversions:

       • Choose "Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings."

     • Finish the setup with the recommended defaults.

3. Verify Git Installation: Open a terminal (Command Prompt or Git Bash) and run:

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   git --version
   

Step 2: Configure Git

Once installed, configure Git with your user information.

1. Set Your Name:

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   git config --global user.name "Your Name"
   

2. Set Your Email:

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   git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
   

3. Check Configuration:

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   git config --list
   

Step 3: Generate SSH Key (Optional for Remote Repositories)

To authenticate with services like GitHub, Azure DevOps, or GitLab using SSH:

1. Generate SSH Key:

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   ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your.email@example.com"
   

   • Press Enter to save the key in the default location.

   • Enter a passphrase (optional).

2. Add SSH Key to Agent:

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   ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
   

3. Copy SSH Key:

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   clip < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
   

   This copies the public key to the clipboard.

4. Add the SSH Key to Your Remote Repository (e.g., GitHub/Azure DevOps):

   • Go to the settings of your remote repository.

   • Add the SSH key under the SSH Keys section.

Step 4: Initialize a Git Repository

1. Create a New Project Directory:

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   mkdir MyProject
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   cd MyProject
   

2. Initialize Git:

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   git init
   

   This creates a .git directory in your project folder to track changes.

Step 5: Optional Git Settings for Windows

1. Set Default Branch Name: e.g., main instead of master

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   git config --global init.defaultBranch main
   

2. Set Credential Manager: Windows supports Git Credential Manager, which stores credentials securely.

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   git config --global credential.helper manager
   

Step 6: Visual Studio Code Integration

1. Install VS Code:

   • Download from Visual Studio Code.

2. Install Git Extension:

   • Open the Extensions view (Ctrl+Shift+X) and install the Git extension.

3. Use Git in VS Code:

   • Open your project folder in VS Code.

   • Use the Source Control tab to stage, commit, and push changes.

Verification

1. Run git status in the terminal to check the status of your repository.

2. Make a simple change, add a file, and commit it:

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echo "Hello, Git!" > README.md
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git add README.md
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git commit -m "Initial commit"

This completes the Git setup and initialization process on Windows. Have Fun!