How to install Git on Linux

Git is a widely-used version control system that allows you to track changes in your codebase and collaborate with others. This guide will walk you through the steps to install Git on various Linux distributions.

Installing Git on Ubuntu

To install Git on Ubuntu, follow these steps:

1. Update the package index:

   Terminal

   sudo apt update
   
   

2. Install Git:

   Terminal

   sudo apt install git
   
   

3. Verify the installation:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

   You should see the installed Git version.

Installing Git on Debian

Debian is another widely-used Linux distribution. Here’s how you can install Git on Debian:

1. Update the package index:

   Terminal

   sudo apt update
   
   

2. Install Git:

   Terminal

   sudo apt install git
   
   

3. Verify the installation:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

   You should see the installed Git version.

Installing Git on Fedora

For Fedora users, the installation process is slightly different. Follow these steps:

1. Update the package index:

   Terminal

   sudo dnf update
   
   

2. Install Git:

   Terminal

   sudo dnf install git
   
   

3. Verify the installation:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

   You should see the installed Git version.

Installing Git on CentOS

CentOS users can install Git by following these steps:

1. Install the required dependencies:

   Terminal

   sudo yum groupinstall "Development Tools"
   sudo yum install gettext-devel openssl-devel perl-CPAN perl-devel zlib-devel
   
   

2. Download the latest Git source code:

   Terminal

   wget https://github.com/git/git/archive/v2.34.1.tar.gz -O git.tar.gz
   
   

3. Extract the downloaded file:

   Terminal

   tar -zxf git.tar.gz
   cd git-2.34.1
   
   

4. Compile and install Git:

   Terminal

   make prefix=/usr/local all
   sudo make prefix=/usr/local install
   
   

5. Verify the installation:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

   You should see the installed Git version.

Configuring Git

After installing Git, you should configure your Git environment. Follow these steps:

1. Set your username:

   Terminal

   git config --global user.name "Your Name"
   
   

2. Set your email:

   Terminal

   git config --global user.email "your.email@example.com"
   
   

3. Verify your configuration:

   Terminal

   git config --list
   
   

   You should see your username and email configured.

Installing Git from source

If you need a specific version of Git or want to install the latest version, you can install Git directly from the source code. Follow these steps:

1. Install the required dependencies:

   On Ubuntu/Debian:

   Terminal

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install make libssl-dev libghc-zlib-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev libexpat1-dev gettext unzip
   
   

   On Fedora:

   Terminal

   sudo dnf install dh-autoreconf curl-devel expat-devel gettext-devel openssl-devel perl-devel zlib-devel
   sudo dnf install asciidoc xmlto docbook2X
   
   

2. Download the latest Git source code:

   Terminal

   wget https://github.com/git/git/archive/v2.34.1.tar.gz -O git.tar.gz
   
   

3. Extract the downloaded file:

   Terminal

   tar -zxf git.tar.gz
   cd git-2.34.1
   
   

4. Compile and install Git:

   Terminal

   make prefix=/usr/local all
   sudo make prefix=/usr/local install
   
   

5. Verify the installation:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

   You should see the installed Git version.

Troubleshooting common issues

Here are some common issues you might encounter during installation and their solutions:

1. Permission denied errors:

   Ensure you are using sudo to install Git. For example:

   Terminal

   sudo apt install git
   
   

2. Command not found:

   Ensure that Git is installed correctly and added to your system’s PATH. Verify the installation with:

   Terminal

   git --version
   
   

For further information see the official Git documentation.