How To Install Git and Setup GitHub

Git and GitHub are important tools for version control, which allows developers to track changes, collaborate efficiently, and manage code repositories. Git is a distributed version control system that helps keep track of modifications in files, while GitHub is a cloud-based platform for hosting Git repositories, making collaboration seamless. To use Git and GitHub for version control, you need to install Git on your system.

In this article, we will discuss how to install Git on Windows, Linux, and Mac, along with setting up GitHub for seamless repository management.

Installing Git on Windows

We will install git on Windows through the official Git website, which is the easy and most recommended way. The following steps are for installing the git on Windows.

Step 1: Download the Installer

Go to the official Git website: https://git-scm.com/downloads/win

The download will start automatically for the latest version of Git for Windows. After the download is complete, run the .exe file.

Step 2: Select Editor & Adjust Path

Follow the prompts in the setup wizard. Most default settings will be fine for general use, but here are some key steps:

• Firstly, the installer will ask which text editor to use for Git. You can choose from options like Vim, Notepad++, or Visual Studio Code.
• Make sure you choose the option that adds Git to your system PATH (recommended for ease of use in the command line).
• Select the default option (OpenSSL) to allow Git to communicate securely over HTTPS.
• The default choice, “Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings,” is ideal for most developers working in Windows environments.

Step 3: Complete the Installation

After configuring the setup, click "Install" and allow the installation to complete.

Once done, you can launch Git Bash (installed with Git) or use Git from the Command Prompt (cmd) by typing the following command.

git --version

If Git is installed, it will display the version number.

Installing Git on Linux

Step 1: Update the System

For Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

For Fedora:

sudo dnf install git

For Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S git

Step 2: Verify Installation

Use the below command to varify the installation of Git in Ubuntu.

git --version

Installing Git on Mac

Step 1: Get Homebrew in your macOS

If you don't have Homebrew, then type the following command in the terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL
 https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install Brew

We recommend you install Homebrew first and then run the below command to download Git with no errors:

brew install git

Step 3: Verify the Installation

Once the installation is complete, verify the installation:

git --version

Setting Up GitHub with Git

Step 1: Create a GitHub Account

• Visit GitHub and sign up.

Step 2: Configure Git with GitHub

Run the following commands in the terminal (Windows Git Bash, Linux, or Mac Terminal):

git config --global user.name "YourName"
git config --global user.email "youremail@example.com"

Step 3: Generate SSH Key (Optional but Recommended)

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

• Copy the key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

• Add it to GitHub > Settings > SSH and GPG keys.

Step 4: Create a New Repository

Now we have successfully setup GitHub in our system.