Setting Up Git and GitHub on Windows with Ubuntu CLI

A comprehensive guide for new developers

Understanding Version Control

Think of Git as a time machine for your code. Just as a writer keeps different drafts of their novel, Git helps developers track changes in their code. Imagine you're building a house (your project) - Git is like taking photographs at different stages of construction, allowing you to return to any point if needed.

Project Structure

Before we begin, ensure you have this folder structure:

project_root/
    ├── .git/           (Created automatically)
    ├── src/            (Your source code)
    ├── readme.md       (Project documentation)

Essential Setup Steps

Installing Ubuntu on Windows

First, we'll set up our development environment. Think of this like setting up your workshop before starting a project.

# Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu

# After installation, launch Ubuntu and create your user account

Installing Git

Installing Git is like getting your basic toolset ready. In Ubuntu:

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install Git
sudo apt install git

# Verify installation
git --version

Configuring Git Identity

This is like signing your work. Every change you make will have your signature:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"

GitHub Setup

GitHub is like a central library where developers store their code. It's a place where your local Git repository connects with the outside world.

Creating SSH Keys

SSH keys are like a secure handshake between your computer and GitHub:

# Generate SSH key
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com"

# Start SSH agent
eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

# Add your SSH key
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

# Copy your public key
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Adding SSH Key to GitHub

  1. Go to GitHub.com and log in
  2. Click your profile picture → Settings
  3. Select "SSH and GPG keys"
  4. Click "New SSH key"
  5. Paste your public key and save

Your First Repository

Creating a repository is like starting a new project folder. Let's create one and push it to GitHub:

# Create a new directory
mkdir my_first_project
cd my_first_project

# Initialize Git repository
git init

# Create a sample file
echo "# My First Project" > readme.md

# Stage the file (like putting it in a preparation area)
git add readme.md

# Commit the file (like taking a snapshot)
git commit -m "Initial commit: Add readme"

# Create repository on GitHub and copy its SSH URL
# Then link your local repository
git remote add origin git@github.com:username/my_first_project.git

# Push your code
git push -u origin main

Real World Application

Let's look at a practical example of how this setup helps in real development:

# Creating a new feature branch
git checkout -b feature_login_page

# Make changes to your code
echo "<h1>Login Page</h1>" > login.html

# Stage and commit changes
git add login.html
git commit -m "Add basic login page structure"

# Push to GitHub
git push origin feature_login_page

Common Workflows

In real-world development, you might work on multiple features simultaneously. Here's how Git helps:

# Check status of your files
git status

# View commit history
git log

# Create and switch to a new branch
git checkout -b feature_name

# Merge changes from another branch
git merge branch_name

Further Learning

To deepen your understanding, explore these related topics:

Troubleshooting Tips

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are common issues and solutions:

# If you made a mistake in your last commit
git commit --amend

# If you need to undo staged changes
git reset HEAD file_name

# If you need to discard local changes
git checkout -- file_name