How to configure Git in Windows?

This article is explaining whole process to setup/configure Git, using for web repository called GitHub.Through-out this article I will explain the step-by-step walthrough - GitHub.

Learn What is GitHub?

In April-2008, GitHub was launched. GitHub is nothing but Web Based Hosting Service, which provides you to create your
own repositories of softwares etc. GitHub is offering both Free and Paid accounts for 'Open Sources' projects In 2010 it named as 'GitHub Inc.'

GitHub which is running on the software has written in 'Ruby On Rails' To start with GitHub repositories you just need to
install GitHub software :

Git for Windows

Git for Windows7

Git for Linux

Git for Mac

I am going to explain 'How to configure Git for Windows' as rest of above flavore are beyond the scope of this article.

Install Git

For any software its mandatory that you have proper environment and pre-requisite to meet the initial setup of the software.

First of all, I prefer you get registered your self here : GitHub.

In case of our first install to Git for Windows, we need to download the setup.

Browse to link : msysgit

Here you can get more help as this is the project which is maintained by number of developers say volunteers and you can
also work as a volunteer, if you see any modifcations.

Go to Download page

Download the latest stable release, I prefer Git netinstall - refer to image

Run above install and setup Git in folder say d:/msysgit this is the folder I used to install git and refer
through-out this article.

Create shortcut of Git for your future use

After install you will be notified on the console Git windows to your next task,

here I prefer to create a shortcut to your desktop of Pin to your Startup so, you can use later.

Pining shortcut to TaskBar/Starup - Jusr right click over your desktop Git shirtcut created in above step,
now pin to whereever you want.

Configuring Git settings :

Next step to configure Git to use with your Windows

- git config --global user.name "your username"

- git config --global user.email "your email"

In above, you are saying Git configuration that just work for the guy with above email and username

Now, its time to verify the above config :)

Go to your user a/c - here you can check the above setting using Notepad or notepadd++

Here, you just need to open '.gitconfig' file by right-clicking either in notepad or in notepad++

I prefer you to install notepad++ refer to my earlier post 'How to setup notepad++'

In above, it is done, if you just want to use Git for your versioning of files. You can leave here,

and go for my another post How to configure Git Repository?

But, if you want to use Git much more as above, do follow these steps :

MergeTool - a tool merge your changes within branches and files and many more as showing differences between two versions etc.

I prefer, you to install WinMerge as an external merge tool - refer to my other post How to setup 'WinMerge' for Windows'
Follow above step to open config file with notepad++

Now, type following code in your opened document :
```
			[merge]
				tool = winmerge
			[mergetool "winmerge"]
				cmd winmerge.sh "$BASE" "$LOCAL"
				keepBackup = false
				trustExitCode = false
		
```
Above, [merge] - defines a name of external tool i.e winmerge
$BASE $LOCAL are the macros saying files need to merge, for more detail refer to
my earlier post 'How to setup 'WinMerge' for Windows''.

In above step, we have written winmerge.sh now, we need to add this external command

Go to your Git installed path, remember we have installed Git at D:/msysgit/

now, right click on winmerge.sh file with notepad++

Add following lines in the blank opened document :
```
		echo Launching Winmerger $1 $2
		"C:\Program Files (x86)\WinMerge\WinMergeU.exe" -e -u -dl "Original" -dr "Modified" "$1" "$2"
		
```
I am not going in deep explanation of above lines as this is beyond the scope of this article.

close and save above document.

Next step, to tell Git about the external Merge Tool

Go back and click the Git shortcut to open Git Console Window

shoot following command there :
```
			set GIT_EXTERNAL_DIFF = winmerge.sh
		
```