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World 0: Start Here

Tell Git who you are

You will learn: how to give Git your name, your email and a few good settings.

The problem

Every commit is signed with a name and an email. This one just says “You”. Git can’t guess who you are.

Watch

git config changes Git’s settings, called config: Git's settings, like your name and email.. This one saves your name. --global means: for all your projects.

Try it

Build the command that saves your email. Tap the pieces in order.

Tap the pieces in the right order.

…

Try it

Now set your own name and email here.

Your email shows on every commit. Use one you are happy to share.

Watch

Each project starts with one branch: A storyline of commits. Each branch has a name, like main., a line of save points. This setting names it main. git init diary makes a new project to test it.

Watch

Sometimes Git opens an editor for you to type in. This picks VS Code. --wait makes Git wait until you close it. --list shows all your settings.

Predict

Settings have three levels: system, global and local. Local is for one project. Your global email is home@example.com. One project sets a local email: work@example.com. Which one does that project use?

Try it

Your turn, for real. Do this on your own computer. Copy each line into your terminal.

Quick win: your first real commit

  2. git config --global user.name "Your Name"
  3. git config --global user.email "you@example.com"
  4. git config --global init.defaultBranch main
  5. mkdir my-first-repo
  6. cd my-first-repo
  7. git init
  8. echo "Hello Git" > hello.txt
  9. git add hello.txt
  10. git commit -m "Add hello file"
  11. git log --oneline

0 of 11 steps done · Your ticks are saved.

You did it!

You can now set up Git and make a real commit.

Go deeper (optional)

git config --list --show-origin shows each setting and the file it lives in. --system changes settings for everyone on the computer. On a Mac, code --wait needs the code command. Add it from VS Code’s Command Palette.