Table of Contents

Introduction

Version control systems are essential tools in modern software development. A version control system allows you to track changes to your code, revert to previous stages, and create alternate versions of files and directories. Git is one of the most popular distributed version control systems, allowing many software projects to maintain their files in Git repositories. Platforms like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket use Git to help facilitate software development project sharing and collaboration.

In this tutorial, you will install and configure Git on an Ubuntu server. We will cover two different methods to install the software: using the built-in apt package manager and installing from the source code. Each approach has distinct benefits that may be better for your specific setup. After installing, you will also complete the initial configuration to start using the software.

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Key Takeaways:

Here are eight key takeaways from the article:

  • Git is a distributed version control system that allows you to track changes to your code, revert to previous stages, and collaborate with others.
  • You can install Git on Ubuntu using the built-in apt package manager for a fast and straightforward setup.
  • For the most recent version, you can compile and install Git from the source code.
  • After installation, you must configure your user name and email address for Git to properly track your commits.
  • The git config --global user.name command sets the name that will be associated with your commits.
  • The git config --global user.email command sets the email address for your commits.
  • You can verify your Git installation and version number by running the git --version command.

Prerequisites

git illustration for: Prerequisites

You will need an Ubuntu server with a non-root superuser account. To set this up, you can follow our Initial Server Setup Guide for Ubuntu.

With your server and user set up, you are ready to begin.

Installing Git with Default Packages

The option of installing with default packages is best if you want to get up and running quickly with Git if you prefer a widely-used stable version or if you don't need the newest available functionalities. If you are looking for the most recent release, you should jump to the section on installing from source so you can choose the specific version you want to install.

Git is likely already installed on your Ubuntu server. You can confirm this is the case on your server with the following command:

				
					
git --version

If you receive output similar to the following, then Git is already installed.

				
					
[secondary_label Output]

git version <^>2.51.0<^>

If this is the case for you, you may need to update the Git version if yours is outdated and then you can move on to setting up your version.

If you did not get output of a Git version number, you will need to install it with the Ubuntu default package manager APT.

First, use the apt package management tools to update your local package index.

				
					
sudo apt update

With the update complete, you can install Git:

				
					
sudo apt install git

You can confirm that you have installed Git correctly by running the following command and checking that you receive relevant output.

				
					
git --version

				
			
				
					
[secondary_label Output]

git version <^>2.51.0<^>

With Git successfully installed, you can now move on to the Setting Up Git section of this tutorial to complete your setup.

Installing Git from Source

If you’re looking for a more flexible method of installing Git, you may want to compile the software from source, which we will go over in this section. This takes longer and will not be maintained through your package manager, but it will allow you to download the latest release and will give you greater control over the options you include if you wish to make customizations.

Verify the version of Git currently installed on the server:

				
					
git --version

If Git is installed, you’ll receive output similar to the following:

				
					
[secondary_label Output]

git version <^>2.51.0<^>

Before you begin, you need to install the software that Git depends on. This is all available in the default repositories, so we can update our local package index and then install the relevant packages.

				
					
sudo apt update

sudo apt install libz-dev libssl-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev libexpat1-dev gettext cmake gcc

After you have installed the necessary dependencies, create a temporary directory and move into it. This is where we will download our Git tarball.

				
					
mkdir tmp

cd tmp

From the Git project website, we can navigate to the tarball list and download the version you would like. At the time of writing, the most recent version is 2.51.0, so we will download that for demonstration purposes. We’ll use curl and output the file we download to git.tar.gz.

				
					
curl -o git.tar.gz https://mirrors.edge.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/git-<^>2.51.0<^>.tar.gz

Unpack the compressed tarball file:

				
					
tar -zxf git.tar.gz

Next, move into the new Git directory:

				
					
cd git-*

Now, you can make the package and install it by typing these two commands:

				
					
make prefix=/usr/local all

sudo make prefix=/usr/local install

Now, replace the shell process so that the version of Git we just installed will be used:

				
					
 exec bash

With this complete, you can be sure that your install was successful by checking the version.

				
					
git --version

				
			
				
					
[secondary_label Output]

git version <^>2.51.0<^>

With Git successfully installed, you can now complete your setup.

Setting Up Git

After you are satisfied with your Git version, you should configure Git so that the generated commit messages you make will contain your correct information and support you as you build your software project.

Configuration can be achieved by using the git config command. Specifically, we need to provide our name and email address because Git embeds this information into each commit we do. We can go ahead and add this information by typing:

				
					
git config --global user.name "<^>Your Name<^>"

git config --global user.email "<^>youremail@domain.com<^>"

We can display all of the configuration items that have been set by typing:

				
					
git config --list

				
			
				
					
[secondary_label Output]

user.name=<^>Your Name<^>

user.email=<^>youremail@domain.com<^>

...

Beyond your identity, you can set other useful global configurations. A common practice is to define the default branch name for new repositories as main.

				
					
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

You can also set your preferred text editor for writing commit messages. If you prefer nano, for example, you can set it like this:

				
					
git config --global core.editor "nano"

To review all your global configuration settings, use the --list flag.

				
					
git config --global --list

				
			
				
					
[secondary_label Output]

user.name=Your Name

user.email=youremail@domain.com

init.defaultBranch=main

core.editor=nano

These settings are stored in a file named .gitconfig in your home directory. You can edit this file directly, but using the git config command is generally safer. With this initial setup complete, Git is now ready for use.

Uninstalling Git

If you need to uninstall Git, the process depends on how you originally installed it. Whether you used the APT package manager or compiled it from source, you can remove the application and its associated files from your system.

Uninstalling Git Installed with APT

If you installed Git from Ubuntu's default repositories, you can use the apt command-line utility to remove it.

Step 1 — Uninstalling the Git Package

To remove Git, use the apt remove command. This command uninstalls the package but leaves any configuration files behind.

				
					
sudo apt remove git

You will be prompted to confirm the removal. Press Y and then ENTER to proceed. This action uninstalls the main Git package.

Step 2 — Removing Unused Dependencies

When you installed Git, apt may have also installed other packages that Git depends on. If these packages are no longer needed by any other software on your system, you can remove them to free up disk space.

				
					
sudo apt autoremove

This command identifies and removes any packages that were installed as dependencies but are no longer required.

Uninstalling Git Installed from Source

Uninstalling a version of Git that was compiled from source is a more manual process. You must perform the steps from the same source directory where the compilation took place.

Step 1 — Navigating to the Source Directory

First, use the cd command to move into the directory containing the Git source code.

				
					
cd /path/to/git/source

Replace /path/to/git/source with the correct path for your system. If you have forgotten the location, you may need to search for it.

Step 2 — Running the Uninstall Command

Once inside the source directory, you can run the uninstall target from the Makefile with sudo privileges.

				
					
sudo make uninstall

This command executes a script that removes the program files that make install had previously placed on the system.

Verifying Uninstallation

You can verify that Git has been removed by attempting to check its version.

				
					
git --version

If Git has been successfully uninstalled, you will see a message indicating that the command could not be found.

				
					
[secondary_label Output]

Command 'git' not found, but can be installed with:

sudo apt install git

This confirms that the Git application is no longer on your system. Note that this process does not remove your global Git configuration file (~/.gitconfig) or any local repositories. If you wish to remove your configuration, you can do so manually with the rm command:

				
					
rm ~/.gitconfig

This will delete the user-specific Git configuration file from your home directory, allowing you to start with a completely fresh configuration when you reinstall Git.

Common Mistakes and Troubleshooting

Installing Git is usually a straightforward process, but a few common missteps can lead to configuration issues, version incompatibilities, or security oversights. In this section, we'll cover the frequent mistakes made during and after installation on Ubuntu and provide the correct procedures to follow.

1. Using an Outdated Git Version from Default Repositories

A frequent issue is relying on the version of Git included in Ubuntu's default repositories. These packages often lag behind the latest stable release, which can cause incompatibility with features available on services like GitHub or GitLab, such as the git switch and git restore commands.

  • Problem: Running sudo apt install git may install an older version of Git.
  • Solution: To get the most recent version, add the official Git PPA (Personal Package Archive) before installing. This ensures you have access to the latest features and security patches.
				
					
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa

sudo apt update

sudo apt install git -y

2. Skipping User Identity Configuration

Many users forget to configure their user identity after installing Git. When you make a commit without setting your name and email, Git may use a generic placeholder, making it difficult to attribute work correctly in a collaborative project.

  • Problem: Commits are made with an "unknown" user or an incorrect system-generated email.
  • Solution: Always set your global user name and email immediately after installation. Use the same email address that is associated with your GitHub or GitLab account to ensure your contributions are linked to your profile.
				
					
git config --global user.name "Your Name"

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

3. Not Changing the Default Branch Name

Historically, the default branch in Git was named master. However, the industry standard has shifted to main. If you initialize a new local repository, it may still default to master, creating a mismatch when you try to push it to a remote service like GitHub that expects main.

  • Problem: Your local default branch (master) does not match the remote default branch (main).
  • Solution: Configure Git to use main as the default name for the initial branch in all new repositories.
				
					
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

4. Storing Credentials Insecurely or Repetitively Entering Them

When you first connect to a remote repository using HTTPS, Git will ask for your credentials. Some users configure the credential.helper store option, which saves your password or Personal Access Token (PAT) in plain text on your machine. Others skip credential helpers altogether and type their password for every interaction with the remote.

  • Problem: Storing credentials in plain text is a security risk, while repeatedly typing them is inefficient.
  • Solution: Use SSH keys for authentication. SSH provides a more secure and convenient way to interact with remote repositories without needing to enter your credentials each time. First, generate a new SSH key pair:
				
					
ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

After generating the key, add the public key (~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub) to your GitHub or GitLab account.

5. Not Verifying the Installation

After running the installation command, it is good practice to confirm that Git was installed correctly and is accessible through your system's PATH.

  • Problem: You run a git command and receive a command not found error.
  • Solution: Verify the installation path and the installed version with the following commands.
				
					
# Check the executable's location

which git



# Check the installed version

git --version

If these commands fail, your installation may have encountered an error, or the PATH environment variable may be misconfigured.

6. Mixing Installation Methods

Installing Git from multiple sources, such as through apt and also by compiling from source, can create conflicts. This can lead to confusion over which Git executable is being used and can make uninstallation difficult.

  • Problem: Multiple versions of Git exist on the system, leading to unpredictable behavior.
  • Solution: Choose a single installation method and stick with it. For most users, the PPA method is recommended. If you need a custom build, compile from source, but first ensure that any other versions of Git have been fully removed.

7. Not Backing Up Configuration Files

Your global .gitconfig file, located in your home directory, stores all the custom settings you've configured. When you work on multiple machines, failing to synchronize this file leads to an inconsistent development environment.

  • Problem: Your Git settings, aliases, and user identity differ from one machine to another.
  • Solution: Store your configuration files, often called "dotfiles," in a Git repository and clone it across your machines. This practice ensures your setup remains consistent everywhere you work.

FAQs

1. How do I install Git on Ubuntu 22.04?

The most straightforward way to install Git on Ubuntu 22.04 is by using apt.

First, open your terminal and update your package list to ensure you are getting the latest version available in the default repositories:

				
					
sudo apt update

Next, install Git with the following command:

				
					
sudo apt install git

The -y flag can be added to automatically confirm the installation.

2. How do I check if Git is installed on Ubuntu?

You can verify that Git has been installed correctly by checking its version. Run the following command in your terminal:

				
					
git --version

If Git is installed, the output will display the installed version, for example: git version 2.51.0.

3. How do I configure Git after installation?

After installing Git, it's important to configure your user name and email address. These details are used to identify the author of commits.

To set your user name, use the following command, replacing "Your Name" with your actual name:

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

To set your email address, use this command, replacing "[email protected]" with your email:

				
					
git config --global user.email "youremail@domain.com"

The --global flag ensures that these settings are applied to all your Git projects on the current user account. You can verify your configuration with this command:

				
					
git config --global --list

4. What’s the difference between installing Git via apt and source?

There are two primary methods for installing Git on Ubuntu: using the apt package manager or compiling from the source code.

Feature Installation via apt Installation from Source
— — —
Ease of Installation Simple and quick, requiring a single command. More complex, involving downloading the source code and compiling it manually.
Version Installs the latest version available in the Ubuntu repositories, which may not be the most recent Git release. Allows you to install the very latest version of Git.
Updates Updates are managed by the apt package manager. You are responsible for manually updating to new versions.
Dependencies Automatically handles all necessary dependencies. Requires you to manually install several dependencies before compilation.

For most users, installing Git via apt is the recommended method due to its simplicity and ease of maintenance.

5. How do I update Git to the latest version on Ubuntu?

If you installed Git using apt, you can update it with the following commands:

				
					
sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade git

To get the absolute latest version of Git as soon as it is released, you can add the official Git PPA:

				
					
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa

sudo apt update

sudo apt install git

6. How do I uninstall Git from Ubuntu?

To remove the Git package from your system, use the apt remove command:

				
					
sudo apt remove git

If you also want to remove any configuration files associated with Git, use the apt purge command:

				
					
sudo apt purge git

To remove any dependencies that were installed with Git and are no longer needed, you can run:

				
					
sudo apt autoremove

7. Can I install Git on WSL Ubuntu?

Yes, you can install Git on Ubuntu running under the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) in the same way you would on a native Ubuntu installation. The commands for installing, configuring, and managing Git are identical.

Open your Ubuntu terminal within WSL and follow the standard installation and configuration steps mentioned above. It's important to note that you will need to install and configure Git separately on your Windows file system if you plan to use it there as well.

Conclusion

You now have Git installed and configured on your Ubuntu server. This guide covered two installation paths: using the default apt packages for a stable and straightforward setup, and compiling from source to get the latest version. You also completed the initial configuration of your user identity, which prepares you to start making commits.

With Git ready for use, you can begin tracking your software projects. Your next step could be to create a new repository for an existing project or clone a remote repository to start contributing. To continue learning and make the most of version control, you can explore the following guides: