How to Install Git in Windows 10

Git is an important tool on Windows for both development and system administration. It tracks changes, enables collaboration, provides offline work, and integrates with online platforms, all while being widely adopted and perfect for package management and learning. The version control system comes when multiple developers contribute to the project. Install Git Windows 10 is the essential step on your development journey.

In this post, we will discuss how to set up Git on the Windows 10 operating system. Understanding Git is important in a world of collaborative development and project organization.

What is Git?

Git is a free and open-source distributed version control system designed to track changes in any set of files, most commonly used for code. It allows you to record the history of all changes made to a project, revert to previous versions, and collaborate with other developers easily. Here are some key features of Git:

1. Distributed: Unlike traditional version control systems, Git doesn’t rely on a central server to store all the code. Instead, each developer has a complete copy of the repository on their computer.
2. Version control: Git tracks every change made to your files, storing them as snapshots called commits. You can easily see what changed, who made the change, and when it was made.
3. Branching: Git allows you to create temporary copies of your code called branches. This lets you experiment with new features or fix bugs without affecting the main project.
4. Staging: Before committing your changes, you can stage them. This lets you select which changes you want to include in the next commit. You can also unstage changes if you decide you don’t want them after all.
5. Merging: When multiple developers are working on the same project, Git lets you merge their changes.

Installing Git on Windows 10

Git can be a bit complex to learn at first, but it’s an important tool that can save you a lot of time in the long run. If you’re a developer, learning Git is essential. And even if you’re not a developer, Git can still be useful for tracking changes in any set of files, such as documents or photos. To Git install Windows 10 there are steps described below:

1. Git official page

To download Git for Windows 10, open your favorite browser like Google Chrome. Refer to the official Git for Windows download page. Click on “Download for Windows”.

2. Download the appropriate installer

Choose the 64-bit version if your system is 64-bit, and the 32-bit version for 32-bit systems. You can check your system type by searching for “System Information” in the Windows search bar.

3. Run the downloaded installer

Click on the 64-bit Git for Windows portable for 64-bit architecture system. It will start downloading the exe file. After completing running the installer file, a popup appears to customize your installation. Select the destination location

4. Customization options

During the installation, the component selection screen will pop up. I would recommend checking the “Git Bash” and “Git GUI” for a smooth process:

Moving on to the next screen you will be presented with several options:

• Use the default editor: Select your preferred text editor if you have one or leave the default.
• Line ending conversion: This option is typically left at the default “Checkout as-is, commit Unix-style line endings” unless you have specific requirements.
• Integrating with your environment: Check the boxes for features you want, like Git Bash integration with your command prompt and adding Git to your path environment variable.

5. Complete the installation:

Click “Finish” to complete the Git installation on your Windows 10 system. This will install Git latest version Windows 10

Verifying Installation

Search for “Command Prompt” in the Windows search bar and launch it. In the Command Prompt window type the following command:

git --version

If Git is installed correctly, you should see the installed version number displayed. Here install git windows command line looks like this:

Why do we need Git?

Here are the key reasons why Git is essential on Windows 10 operating systems, especially for software development and system administration:

• Git version control: Tracks every change made to files and directories, which allows reverting to previous versions if needed and comparing different versions to identify.
• Git collaboration: Supports creating branches for different features or experimental work which allows for parallel development and testing of different ideas and provides a structured way to merge changes back into the main branch when ready.
• Working offline: Allows you to work on your project even without an internet connection for example commit changes locally and push them to a remote repository later.
• Distributed nature: No single point of failure because of its nature, each developer has a full copy of the repository which prevents data loss.
• Integration: It can connect with popular online platforms like GitHub.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you should have successfully installed Git on your Windows 10 system and be ready to start using it for your projects. Once Git is installed, you can connect to remote repositories like GitHub to collaborate on projects. You can also refer to our guide on how to check and update the Git version for Linux, Windows, and Mac users.

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