Install Git on Linux, Ubuntu, Fedora, Gentoo, Arch, OpenSUSE, etc.

Git is important to coders. And Linux being one of the top OSes in the world, and a favorite of developers, equally requires a version control system that can allow them to track file changes. Git is at the forefront of such version control systems as they work by creating various collections of files and recording changes made to each version over time. As such, installing Git on Linux will allow developers to switch between the different versions of the files effortlessly.

What is Git?

Linus Torvalds is the person credited for the development of Git back in the year 2005. Since then, it has kept on growing as more and more developers find the software user-friendly and efficient as a version control system. And due to it being free and open-sourced to boot over that, Git enjoys a thriving community that contributes to its success.

As a version control system, Git is capable of handling anything, irrespective of the scale, involving file changes. Thus, it is able to handle small or large products with sufficient speed and efficiency. Furthermore, since Git can track changes in computer files, employers can use the software to coordinate work among programmers to develop source codes during a project development phase.

Git aims to achieve speed while maintaining data integrity and supports distributed non-linear workflows.

Here is an amazing video by Programming with Mosh channel explaining Git in detail –

Uses of Git

Using Git can be a difficult process, especially for beginners. However, once you get used to it, Git can be an amazing tool. Here we listed some of the best uses of Git.

1. Version Control

Firstly, Git allows you to keep a history of changes to your code. This can be extremely beneficial in a lot of scenarios. For example, imagine you’re working on a project. You made some changes to the code that didn’t quite work out. If you have Git installed, you can easily roll back to a previous, working version of your code with a click of a button. It’s like having a safety net for your project.

2. Collaboration

If you are working with a team, Git makes collaboration a breeze. Using Git, multiple people can work on the same project simultaneously, and Git helps merge their changes together seamlessly as well. No more stepping on each other’s toes!

3. Branching

Git lets you create branches, which are like parallel universes for your code. You can work on new features or bug fixes in separate branches without affecting the main codebase. This is an extremely important feature for any large project.

Once your changes are ready, you can merge them back in. It’s a neat way to keep things organized.

4. Remote Repositories

It can sync your code with remote repositories like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket (or anything else that is supported by the tool). This means you can work on your code from anywhere and collaborate with developers from all over the world no matter where you are.

5. Open Source Contributions

If you’re into open source, Git is your best friend. You can fork repositories, make changes, and then create pull requests to contribute your improvements to the original project. Contributing to open source can build your portfolio, making it easier to get jobs in the future.

6. Backup

Git also acts as a backup system. By pushing your code to a remote repository, you ensure that your precious work is safe even if your local machine decides to take a vacation for some reason.

7. Experimentation

Want to experiment with a new idea or feature? Create a branch, tinker away, and if it doesn’t work out, you can simply delete the branch. No harm done! As simple as that.

8. Documentation

Git can be used to track changes in documentation and writing projects, making it handy for writers. You can see who made what changes and when without having to reach out to them every single time.

Prerequisites to installing Git on Linux

Installing Git on any Linux distro is no chore, all the user has to do is:

• Ensure he has a working internet connection.
• Required free disk space.
• And access (preferably root access) to a Linux system.

Recommended Git Installation Methods

Linux Distribution	Installation Method
Debian/Ubuntu	Using Package Manager
Fedora	Using Package Manager
Gentoo	Using Package Manager
Arch Linux	Using Package Manager
openSUSE	Using Package Manager
Mageia	Using Package Manager
NixOS	Using Package Manager
FreeBSD	Using Package Manager
Solaris 9/10/11/Express	Using Package Manager
OpenBSD	Using Package Manager
Alpine	Using Package Manager
Slitaz	Using Package Manager
Other Distributions	Building from Source

Methods to install Git

There are several methods you can follow to install Git on Linux. The steps you have to follow will depend on the type of Linux distribution you are using and the features you might need. Follow the methods mentioned below based on your needs, starting from the top to the bottom.

Method 1. Using the preferred package managers

The first method is the easiest and preferred solution for Git installation. All the user has to do is access the command terminal and the system repository. We have included the installation command required for the different distros in the following segment.

Note – The underlining installation process remains the same and will not be repeated.

Installing Git on Debian/Ubuntu

Now, let’s have a look at the steps required to install Git on Ubuntu:

Step 1. Launch the command terminal using Ctrl + Alt + T.

Step 2. Update the APT repository if needed:

sudo apt update

sudo apt-get update

Step 3. Install Git.

sudo apt install git

or

sudo apt-get install git

Fedora

The first few steps remain the same for Fedora. However, the installation command changes to either YUM or DNF, depending on your system version.

On Fedora 21 or older:

sudo yum install git

On fedora 22 and later:

sudo dnf install git

Note – The rest of the distros mentioned here use the similar first few steps. Only the actual installation code differs.

Gentoo

emerge --ask --verbose dev-vcs/git

Arch Linux

You can install Git on Arch Linux using the following command:

pacman -S git

openSUSE

zypper install git

Mageia

urpmi git

NixOS

nix-env -i git

FreeBSD

pkg install git

Solaris 9/10/11/Express

pkgutil -i git

or

pkg install developer/versioning/git

OpenBSD

pkg_add git

Alpine

apk add git

Slitaz

tazpkg get-install git

Method 2. Install Git by Building from Source

For advanced users, they can modify or customize the file during installation when it is built from source. However, binary installations are a bit behind times, especially in recent years as Git has matured. Thus, in order to build a working Git on a Linux distro users are required to install a few Git-dependent libraries such as: autotools, curl, zlib, openssl, expat, and libiconv. Given below is the entire installation process for different distros.

On Debian/Ubuntu

Step 1. Launch the command terminal.

Step 2. Now install the required libraries and dependencies:

sudo apt-get install dh-autoreconf libcurl4-gnutls-dev libexpat1-dev \ gettext libz-dev libssl-dev

sudo apt-get install asciidoc xmlto docbook2x

Step 3. Next, the user is required to install the install-info package:

sudo apt-get install install-info

Step 4. Then, download the latest tagged release tarball either from the Kernel website or GitHub.

Step 5. Now decompress the .tar file:

tar -zxf git-2.8.0.tar.gz

Step 6. Finally, compile the build using CD and MAKE command:

cd git-2.8.0

make configure

./configure --prefix=/usr

make all doc info

Step 7. And lastly, install the build.

sudo make install install-doc install-html install-info

On Fedora

On Fedora the installation process remains the same as Debian/Ubuntu after Step 4. The rest of the process is described below:

Step 1. Start the command terminal.

Step 2. Then, install the required dependencies:

sudo dnf install dh-autoreconf curl-devel expat-devel gettext-devel
\ openssl-devel perl-devel zlib-devel

sudo dnf install asciidoc xmlto docbook2X

Step 3. Instead of the install-info package, Fedora users need the getopt package.

sudo dnf install getopt

The rest of the steps are the same for Fedora as it was on Debian/Ubuntu.

How to Check if Git is Installed

After installing Git, make sure that the installation was successful by running the following command in the terminal –

git --version

The output of this command should look something like this –

git version 2.33.0

Configure Git after Successful installation

Installing git may not be enough for you to seamlessly utilize its features. Hence, you should configure things such as your repository username and email.

Configure username and email

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

Set preferred text editor for Git

You can set VS Code as the default Git editor using the following command –

git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

Configure Line Bindings

If you’re working on a cross-platform project, you might want to configure how Git handles line endings. If not, it might create issues, especially if you have a team working from different operating systems. On Windows, you can set it to autocrlf, and on macOS/Linux, you can set it to input:

git config --global core.autocrlf input

Once you have made all the configuration changes based on your preferences, you can verify everything running this command.

git config --list

Git Commands for Common Version Control Tasks

In order to start using Git to control your code versions, you should be familiar with these Git commands –

Task	Git Command
Initialize a new Git repository	git init
Clone a remote repository	git clone <repository_url>
Create a new branch	git checkout -b <branch_name>
Switch to an existing branch	git checkout <branch_name>
Stage changes for commit	git add <file_or_directory>
Commit changes with a message	git commit -m "Commit message"
Push changes to a remote repo	git push <remote_name> <branch_name>
Pull changes from a remote repo	git pull <remote_name> <branch_name>
View commit history	git log
Create a Git tag	git tag <tag_name>
Merge changes from another branch	git merge <branch_name>
Discard changes in working dir	git checkout -- <file_or_directory>

The best Git Hosting Platforms

There are many Git hosting platforms available to make it easier to work with Git. Based on our research and experience, the following are the best in the industry –

Platform	Description
GitHub	The most popular platform for code hosting and collaboration.
GitLab	Offers both cloud-hosted and self-hosted Git repository options.
Bitbucket	Provides Git and Mercurial repository hosting.
SourceForge	Supports Git for hosting open-source projects.
Azure DevOps	Integrated development platform by Microsoft, includes Git hosting.
GitKraken	Git GUI client with built-in Git repository hosting.
GitBucket	Lightweight and open-source Git platform written in Scala.

Why is Git Popular Among Developers?

Git’s widespread popularity stems not just from its functionality but also from its adaptability and developer-friendly design. Unlike traditional version control systems, Git is distributed, meaning every developer has a full copy of the project’s history, which allows for offline work and robust data protection. Furthermore, Git boasts remarkable performance in handling large projects and a diverse range of workflows, whether you’re a solo coder or part of a globally distributed team.

Git’s compatibility with platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket also plays a significant role in its popularity. These platforms add features like issue tracking, continuous integration, and extensive collaboration tools, enhancing the capabilities of Git and making it a one-stop solution for version control and project management. With its open-source nature and active community, Git continuously evolves to meet modern development needs, making it an essential tool in every developer’s toolkit.

FAQs about Git Installation