Download and install Git from the official website.

To download and install Git from the official website, follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the Official Git Website

1. Open your web browser.
2. Go to the official Git website: https://git-scm.com/.

Step 2: Download Git

1. On the homepage, you'll see a big download button. The website typically detects your operating system automatically and suggests the appropriate version of Git.

2. Click on the Download for [Your Operating System] button. This will start the download of the Git installer.

   • For Windows: The download file will be an .exe file.
   • For macOS: The download file will be a .dmg file.
   • For Linux: You can either download the source code or use your package manager to install Git.

Step 3: Install Git on Your Operating System

For Windows:

1. Once the download is complete, locate the .exe file (likely in your Downloads folder) and double-click to run the installer.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions. You can mostly stick with the default settings unless you have specific needs.
3. Important options to consider:
   • Choosing the default editor used by Git: By default, Git installs with Vim as the default editor. You can change this to another text editor like Notepad++ if preferred.
   • Adjusting your PATH environment: You’ll be asked how you want to use Git from the command line. The most common choice is "Git from the command line and also from 3rd-party software."
   • Choosing HTTPS transport backend: Use the OpenSSL library option for better security.
   • Configuring the line ending conversions: Stick with the recommended setting unless you have specific needs.
4. After configuring the options, click Install and let the process complete.
5. Once installed, click Finish.

For macOS:

1. Open the .dmg file you downloaded.
2. Double-click the Git installer package inside.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Alternatively, you can install Git using Homebrew (if you have it installed) by running:

brew install git

For Linux:

1. Open your terminal.
2. Use your distribution’s package manager to install Git. For example:
   • Debian/Ubuntu:

     sudo apt-get update
     sudo apt-get install git
     

   • Fedora:

     sudo dnf install git
     

   • Arch Linux:

     sudo pacman -S git
     

Step 4: Verify the Installation

1. Once the installation is complete, you can verify that Git is installed correctly by opening a terminal (or command prompt on Windows) and typing:

   git --version
   

2. This command will display the installed version of Git, confirming that the installation was successful.

Step 5: Configure Git (Optional but Recommended)

1. Set your username and email address with the following commands:

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

2. These details will be associated with your commits and are required for using Git effectively.

That’s it! Git is now installed on your system, and you’re ready to start using it.