Getting Started with Git
Before using Git commands, you need to set up Git and know a few basics about how it works.
1. Initialize a Repository
git init
Description: Creates a new Git repository in the current folder. Git will start tracking changes in this directory.
Example:
- Make a new folder and create a new git repository
mkdir my-project
cd my-project
git init
2. Clone an Existing Repository
git clone <repository-url>
Description: Copies an existing repository from a remote location (such as GitHub) to your local machine.
Example:
git clone https://github.com/user/repo.git
replacing with the actual URL
3. Configure Your Git Identity
git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
Description: Git needs your username and email to identify who makes commits. Using --global sets these details for all Git repositories on your computer.
4. Get Help in Git
git help
git help <command>
Description: Displays help information and manuals for Git commands. For example, git help commit shows the manual for the commit command.
Summary of Basic Git Commands
| Command | Purpose |
|---|---|
git init | Start a new Git repository |
git clone <url> | Copy an existing repository |
git config | Set your user identity globally |
git help | Show command usage and manuals |
Next steps include learning how to check the status of your repository and view changes.