Git is a version control system. It tracks code changes, enables team collaboration, and lets you undo mistakes.

💡 Install once, use for years.

Installation

Windows

Option 1: Official installer (recommended)

  1. Download from git-scm.com
  2. Run installer, keep defaults
  3. Important: On “Adjusting your PATH” step, select Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software

Option 2: Via Winget (PowerShell)

winget install Git.Git

Option 3: Via Chocolatey

choco install git -y

Linux

Ubuntu / Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git -y

Fedora / RHEL

sudo dnf install git -y

Arch / Manjaro

sudo pacman -S git

Verify installation (all systems)

git --version
# Expected: git version 2.x.x

Basic configuration

# Name and email (appear in every commit)
git config --global user.name "Kirill Ponfertato"
git config --global user.email "kirill@potatoenergy.ru"

# Default editor (pick one)
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"      # VS Code
git config --global core.editor "nano"             # Nano
git config --global core.editor "vim"              # Vim

# Default branch name
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

# Colored output
git config --global color.ui auto

# Auto CRLF for line endings
git config --global core.autocrlf true    # Windows
git config --global core.autocrlf input   # Linux/macOS

# View all settings
git config --global --list

SSH keys (for GitHub / GitLab)

# Generate key (press Enter for all prompts)
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "kirill@potatoenergy.ru"

# If ed25519 not supported:
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "kirill@potatoenergy.ru"

# Start SSH agent and add key
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

# Show public key (copy the output)
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
# Windows (PowerShell):
Get-Content ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

# Add key to:
# • GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key
# • GitLab: User Settings → SSH Keys

Test connection

# GitHub
ssh -T git@github.com
# Expected: "Hi ponfertato! You've successfully authenticated"

# GitLab
ssh -T git@gitlab.com

First steps

# Create new repository
mkdir my-project && cd my-project
git init

# Clone existing one
git clone <URL>
git clone <URL> my-folder          # into named folder
git clone --depth 1 <URL>          # only latest commit

# Check status
git status

# Add files and commit
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

# Connect remote repository
git remote add origin git@github.com:ponfertato/my-project.git
git push -u origin main

Useful aliases (optional)

# Add to ~/.gitconfig or run commands:
git config --global alias.co checkout
git config --global alias.br branch
git config --global alias.ci commit
git config --global alias.st "status -s"
git config --global alias.lg "log --oneline --graph --all"

# Usage:
git st      # instead of git status -s
git lg      # pretty log
git co -b feature  # create and switch to branch

Troubleshooting

# Git not found after install
→ Restart terminal / computer

# "Permission denied (publickey)" error
→ Ensure public key is added to GitHub/GitLab profile
→ Test: ssh -T git@github.com

# Line ending conflicts (CRLF/LF)
→ Set core.autocrlf for your OS (see above)

# Reset all config to defaults
git config --global --unset-all user.name
git config --global --unset-all user.email
# Or delete: ~/.gitconfig