Git & GitHub

Configuring Git is basically giving your machine a passport and a handwriting style ✍️💻

1. Check if Git is installed

Open terminal / CMD / PowerShell:

Code Snippet
git --version

If installed, you’ll see something like:

Code Snippet
git version 2.49.0

If not, install from:

Git Official Website

2. Set your username

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

Example:

Code Snippet
git config --global user.name "Sathish Kumar"

3. Set your email

Use the same email connected to your GitHub/GitLab account.

Code Snippet
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

Example:

Code Snippet
git config --global user.email "sathish@example.com"

4. Verify configuration

Code Snippet
git config --global --list

You’ll see:

Code Snippet
user.name=Sathish Kumar
user.email=sathish@example.com

5. Set default branch name (recommended)

Code Snippet
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

6. Enable colorful output 🌈

Code Snippet
git config --global color.ui auto

7. Configure credential storage (important)

Windows

Code Snippet
git config --global credential.helper manager

This avoids typing password/token repeatedly.

8. Generate SSH key (best for GitHub)

Check existing key:

Code Snippet
ls ~/.ssh

Generate new key:

Code Snippet
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your@email.com"

Press Enter for defaults.

Start SSH agent:

Code Snippet
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

Add key:

Code Snippet
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Copy public key:

Code Snippet
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Then add it to:

GitHub SSH Settings

9. Test GitHub connection

Code Snippet
ssh -T git@github.com

Expected message:

Code Snippet
Hi username! You've successfully authenticated.

10. First repo workflow 🚀

Code Snippet
git init
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"

Connect remote repo:

Code Snippet
git remote add origin YOUR_REPO_URL

Push:

Code Snippet
git push -u origin main

Useful daily commands

Code Snippet
git status
git pull
git add .
git commit -m "message"
git push

Git feels chaotic for 3 days, magical by day 7, and eventually becomes a time machine with trust issues ⏳🌌