3  Installing Git and Setting Up GitHub

Version control is a fundamental skill in modern software development and data science. To address the challenges of code management, collaboration, and backup, Git has emerged as the industry standard. Git is a distributed version control system that tracks changes to your codebase, allowing you to work efficiently and collaboratively.

This chapter will guide you through the process of setting up Git and GitHub on your computer, regardless of your operating system. We’ll explore not just the how, but also the why behind each step, ensuring you have a solid foundation for your development journey.

3.1 Why Git?

Git solves several critical problems in software development:

• History Tracking: Every change to your code is recorded, allowing you to review or revert changes when needed.
• Collaboration: Multiple developers can work on the same project without conflicts.
• Branching: You can experiment with new features without affecting the main codebase.
• Backup: Your code is stored both locally and remotely, providing redundancy.

3.1.1 Git vs. GitHub

Before we go further, let’s clarify an important distinction:

• Git is the version control system you install on your computer
• GitHub is a web-based platform that hosts Git repositories and adds collaboration features

3.2 Prerequisites

Before installing Git and setting up GitHub, ensure you have:

• Administrative access to your computer
• A stable internet connection
• Approximately 2GB of free disk space
• Basic familiarity with command-line operations
• A modern web browser for GitHub account creation

3.3 Installing Git

The installation process varies by operating system. We’ll cover each major platform in detail. Choose the section that matches your system. Do not install Git from unofficial sources to avoid security risks.

3.3.1 Windows Installation

Windows users have several options for installing Git, but we recommend the official Git for Windows installer for its reliability and included tools.

3.3.1.1 Step-by-Step Windows Installation

1. Download the Installer

   • Navigate to git-scm.com/download/win
   • The download should start automatically
   • Choose the appropriate version (32-bit or 64-bit)
     • If unsure, select the 64-bit version (most modern systems support and use it.)

2. Run the Installer

During installation, you’ll encounter several configuration options. Here are our recommended settings with explanations:

1. Select Components

✓ Windows Explorer integration
✓ Git Bash Here
✓ Git GUI Here
✓ Git LFS (Large File Support)
✓ Associate .git* configuration files with default text editor
✓ Associate .sh files to be run with Bash

2. Choosing the default editor

• Select your preferred editor (we recommend Visual Studio Code if installed)
• If unsure, choose Notepad

3. Adjusting your PATH environment

• Choose “Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software”
• This allows you to use Git from both Git Bash and Windows Command Prompt

4. Choosing HTTPS transport backend

• Select “Use the native Windows Secure Channel library”
• This integrates better with Windows security features

5. Configuring line ending conversions - Select “Checkout Windows-style, commit Unix-style line endings” - This prevents issues when collaborating across different operating systems

3. Verify Installation

   Open Git Bash or Command Prompt and type:

   git --version

3.3.2 macOS Installation

macOS offers multiple installation methods. We’ll cover both the recommended Xcode CLI approach and Homebrew. Please choose the one that suits your needs.

3.3.2.1 Using the Xcode Command Line Tools

We recommend using Xcode Command Line Tools method for macOS users as it provides a stable, reliable, light-weight, and easy-to-maintain installation of Git. This is because Xcode Command Line Tools are Apple supported and updated regularly.

1. Opening Terminal

   • Found under Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal.app;
   • Or, by typing in “Spotlight” in the upper right-hand corner Terminal.

2. Once Terminal is open type:

   sudo xcode-select --install

3. This will trigger an installation pop-up. Please follow the installer prompts.

4. To verify the success of the installation, type into Terminal:

   git --version

3.3.2.2 Using Homebrew

Homebrew is a package manager for macOS that simplifies the installation of software. If you continue on your data science journey, you’ll find Homebrew useful for installing other tools and libraries. Thus, we’re including it here as an alternative installation method. That said, Xcode Command Line Tools is automatically installed through a GUI-free method when you run the Homebrew installation command.

If you already have Homebrew installed, you can skip the first step.

1. Install Homebrew

   Open Terminal and run:

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

   Follow the prompts to complete installation.

2. Install Git

   brew install git

3.3.3 Linux Installation

The installation process varies by distribution. We’ll cover the most popular ones. If your distribution is not listed, refer to the official Git documentation.

3.3.3.1 Ubuntu/Debian

In Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, you can install Git using apt. Open Terminal and run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git-all

3.3.3.2 Fedora

In Fedora, you can install Git using dnf. Open Terminal and run:

sudo dnf install git-all

3.4 Configuring Git

After installation, you need to configure Git with your identity. This information will be attached to your commits.

3.4.1 Basic Configuration

Run the following commands in Terminal to set your name and email:

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

Replace "Your Name" and "your.email@example.com" with your actual name and email address.

Do not use a fake name or email. Your identity is crucial for collaboration and accountability.

macOS Video Tutorial

Windows Video Tutorial

3.4.2 Advanced Configuration

We recommend setting up a few additional configurations to enhance your Git experience. You do not need to set these up immediately, but they can be helpful as you become more comfortable with Git.

We recommend the following configurations:

# Set default branch name to 'main'
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

# Enable colorful git output
git config --global color.ui auto

# Configure line ending behavior
git config --global core.autocrlf input  # On Unix/Mac
git config --global core.autocrlf true   # On Windows

3.5 Setting Up GitHub

GitHub extends Git’s capabilities with a web-based interface and collaboration features. To use GitHub, you need to create an account and set up SSH authentication. We’ll guide you through both processes.

3.5.1 Creating a GitHub Account

First, create a GitHub account if you don’t have one already. You can sign up for free by following these steps:

1. Visit github.com
2. Click “Sign up”
3. Follow the registration process
4. Choose the free plan for personal use
5. Verify your email address
   • We recommend using your .edu email for student benefits

Need more help? Check out GitHub’s Creating an account on GitHub support page.

3.5.2 Student Benefits

GitHub offers free access to its Pro features for students. To activate this:

1. Go to GitHub Education
2. Click “Join GitHub Education”
3. Follow the instructions to verify your student status

You will need to provide proof of enrollment, such as a school email and ID. GitHub will also check your computer’s location relative to your school’s location. Thus, we recommend using the school network or VPN if studying abroad.

With a verified student account, you can access

• GitHub Copilot: AI-powered code completion;
• GitHub Actions: Extended Automated workflows for CI/CD;
• GitHub Codespace: Cloud-based development environment;
• GitHub Pages: Free hosting for static websites;

And more!

You will need to re-verify your student status every other year.

3.5.3 Setting Up SSH Authentication

SSH keys provide a secure way to connect to GitHub without entering your password repeatedly. Previously, we could use our GitHub username and password to authentication over SSH. As of August 13, 2021, GitHub removed that option in favor of SSH keys or personal access tokens.

We’ll guide you through setting up SSH keys for secure, password-free authentication.

If you already have an SSH key, you can skip the key generation steps.

Moreover, you may want to consult the official GitHub documentation on Generating a new SSH key and adding it to the ssh-agent. These instructions can change depending on operating system and advances in generating SSH keys.

3.5.3.1 Generating SSH Keys

We can generate SSH keys using the ssh-keygen command.

1. Generate SSH Key

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

   When prompted:

   • Press Enter to accept the default file location
   • Enter a secure passphrase (recommended)

2. Start SSH Agent

   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

3. Add Your SSH Key

For Windows/Linux

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

For macOS:

ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

4. Add Key to GitHub

   • Copy your public key:

     cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

   • Go to GitHub → Settings → SSH and GPG keys

   • Click “New SSH key”

   • Paste your key and save

     • We recommend giving your key a descriptive name especially if you have multiple keys (e.g., “Work Laptop”, “Personal Desktop”).

5. Verify Connection

   ssh -T git@github.com

3.6 Summary

You now have a fully configured Git installation and GitHub account. This setup will serve as the foundation for all your version control needs. In the next chapter, we’ll explore basic Git commands and workflows in detail.

3.6.1 Key Takeaways

• Git is a powerful version control system that works across all major platforms
• GitHub provides a centralized location for storing and sharing code
• SSH keys enable secure, password-free authentication
• Proper configuration is crucial for a smooth Git experience

3.7 Additional Resources

• Pro Git Book
• GitHub Guides

3.8 Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation or configuration, refer to the following common problems and solutions. If your issue persists, please let us know on our discussion forums or on the GitHub repository’s issue tracker.

3.8.1 SSH Issues

If you encounter SSH connection problems:

1. Verify SSH agent is running:

   eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

2. Check if your key is added:

   ssh-add -l

3. Verify GitHub can read your key:

   ssh -vT git@github.com

3.8.2 Git Configuration Issues

To view your current Git configuration:

git config --list