Installing Git on Windows

Now that you understand the fundamentals of version control and Git's distributed approach, the next practical step is to install Git on your computer. If you are using a Windows machine, this section will guide you through the process.

The most common and recommended way to install Git on Windows is by using the official "Git for Windows" package. This package includes Git itself, along with helpful utilities like Git Bash (a command-line environment that provides a Linux-like experience on Windows) and Git GUI (a graphical user interface alternative).

Downloading the Installer

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the official Git website: https://git-scm.com/
2. On the homepage, you should see a prominent download button, typically labeled for Windows. Click this button.
3. Alternatively, you can go directly to the downloads page (https://git-scm.com/download/win) which should automatically start downloading the latest stable version of the installer.
4. Save the downloaded .exe file to a location you can easily find, like your Downloads folder.

Running the Installer

Once the download is complete, locate the installer file (e.g., Git-2.xx.x-64-bit.exe) and double-click it to start the installation process. You will be presented with the GNU General Public License. Read it if you wish, and then click "Next".

You will proceed through several configuration screens. While the default options are generally sensible for beginners, let's review the important ones:

1. Select Components: This screen lets you choose which components to install.

   • Ensure "Git Bash" and "Git GUI" are checked. Git Bash is particularly useful as many Git tutorials and documentation use its commands.
   • Additional icons and Windows Explorer integration can be helpful but are optional.
   • Leave the other defaults unless you have a specific reason to change them. Click "Next".

2. Choosing the Default Editor Used by Git: Git sometimes needs you to enter text, like commit messages. This step lets you choose the text editor Git will open for these tasks.

   • The default is often Vim, which is powerful but can be challenging for newcomers.
   • You can select a more familiar editor from the dropdown list if it's already installed (e.g., Notepad++, Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text). If you choose VS Code, the installer might need to configure it for you.
   • If unsure, selecting Notepad (the basic Windows editor) is a simple starting point, although less powerful for complex tasks. Click "Next".

3. Adjusting the name of the initial branch in new repositories: The default branch name in Git historically was master. Newer trends favor main. The installer lets you choose.

   • Option 1: "Let Git decide" (currently defaults to master for backward compatibility).
   • Option 2: "Override the default branch name..." You can enter main or another name here. Using main is becoming the standard, especially with platforms like GitHub. Choose the option you prefer or stick with the default if unsure. Click "Next".

4. Adjusting your PATH Environment: This is a significant setting determining how you can run Git commands.

   • Use Git from Git Bash only: This is the safest option if you're worried about conflicts, but means you can only use Git within the Git Bash window.
   • Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software (Recommended): This option adds Git to your system PATH, allowing you to run Git commands directly from the standard Windows Command Prompt (cmd.exe) or PowerShell, as well as from Git Bash and other tools like VS Code. This is usually the most convenient choice.
   • Use Git and optional Unix tools from the Command Prompt: This adds Git and some Unix utilities to the PATH, potentially overriding some Windows tools. Avoid this unless you know you need it.
   • Select the recommended middle option and click "Next".

5. Choosing HTTPS transport backend: Leave the default "Use the OpenSSL library" selected. Click "Next".

6. Configuring the line ending conversions: This setting deals with how Git handles line endings, which differ between Windows (CRLF) and Linux/macOS (LF).

   • Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings (Recommended): Git converts LF endings to CRLF when checking out code, and converts CRLF back to LF when committing. This is the standard setting for Windows development, especially in cross-platform teams.
   • Select the recommended first option and click "Next".

7. Configuring the terminal emulator to use with Git Bash:

   • Use MinTTY (the default terminal of MSYS2) (Recommended): MinTTY provides a better terminal experience (resizable window, Unicode fonts, etc.) than the standard Windows console.
   • Use Windows' default console window: Uses the standard cmd.exe window.
   • Select the recommended MinTTY option and click "Next".

8. Choose the default behavior of git pull: This configures how git pull integrates fetched changes. The default (Fast-forward or merge) is suitable for beginners. We will discuss pull, fetch, and rebase later. Leave the default selected and click "Next".

9. Choose a credential helper: Git needs to authenticate when interacting with remote repositories.

   • Git Credential Manager Core (Default): This securely handles credentials for services like GitHub and GitLab, often integrating with Windows credential storage. This is the recommended option.
   • Click "Next".

10. Configuring extra options:

    • Enable file system caching: Improves performance. Keep it enabled.
    • Enable symbolic links: Symbolic links are less common on Windows but can be enabled if needed. The default (disabled) is usually fine.
    • Click "Next".

11. Configuring experimental options: These options are for testing new features and are generally best left disabled unless you have a specific reason. Click "Install".

Git will now install on your system. Once the installation is complete, you can optionally view the Release Notes or launch Git Bash before clicking "Finish".

Verifying the Installation

To confirm that Git has been installed correctly, you can open either Git Bash (if you installed it) or the standard Windows Command Prompt/PowerShell and type the following command:

git --version

Press Enter. If Git is installed correctly and added to your PATH, you should see output similar to this (the exact version number will vary):

git version 2.45.1.windows.1

If you see a version number, congratulations! Git is installed and ready to be configured on your Windows system. If you get an error message like "'git' is not recognized...", double-check the "Adjusting your PATH Environment" step during installation or try restarting your command prompt/terminal.