Git is one of the most widely used distributed version control systems that helps developers track changes in source code, collaborate on projects, and manage the source code efficiently. It is an essential development tool for software development, allowing teams to work on the same codebase without issues.
Ubuntu, being a popular Linux distribution, provides an easy way to install and configure Git.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, you could install Git on Ubuntu so that you can seamlessly collaborate within the team.
In this guide, we will walk you through the easy steps to install Git on Ubuntu with proper configurations and commands.
Prerequisites for Installing Git on Ubuntu
Before you install Git on Ubuntu, make sure that your system meets the basic requirements:
- A system that runs Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, or other supported versions.
- Access to a terminal or command line tool.
- Sudo admin privileges to install Git on Ubuntu.
- Updated packages list to ensure that you get the latest version. If you need to update the package list, run the following command: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
- A stable internet connection.
- If you plan to install Git from source, ensure that you have build-essential, libssl-dev, and curl installed:
sudo apt install build-essential libssl-dev curl -y
Installing Git on Ubuntu
There are two basic methods to install Git on Ubuntu, one is through the default APT package manager and the other one is by compiling the latest version from the source.
Get exclusive access to all things tech-savvy, and be the first to receive
the latest updates directly in your inbox.
Installing Git Using APT
The easiest and most reliable way to install Git on Ubuntu is by using the APT package manager.
Step 1: Update the Package List
Before you install Git on Ubuntu, you need to update your package list to ensure that you get the latest version available in the repositories.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 2: Install Git
Run the following command to install Git:
sudo apt install git -y
Step 3: Verify the Installation
To verify the installation, you can run the following command:
git –version
This method instals the most stable version of Git that is maintained by Ubuntu.
Related Article: How To Install Kubernetes on Ubuntu 22.04: A Step-by-Step Guide
Installing the Latest Git Version from Source
If you need to install the latest version of Gill with the newest features and bug fixes, you can compile it directly from the source.
Step 1: Install Required Dependencies
Install the required packages by:
sudo apt install build-essential libssl-dev libghc-zlib-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev -y
Step 2: Download the Latest Git Source Code
Navigate to the /usr/src directory and download the latest Git release from its official website:
cd /usr/src
sudo wget https://github.com/git/git/archive/refs/tags/v2.44.0.tar.gz -O git.tar.gz
Step 3: Extract and Compile Git
Extract and compile the files using:
sudo tar -xvzf git.tar.gz
cd git-*
sudo make prefix=/usr/local all
sudo make prefix=/usr/local install
Step 4: Verify the Installation
Verify installation by:
git –version
Verifying the Git Installation
Once you have installed Git on Ubuntu, you need to verify by checking its version.
git –version
If Git is installed successfully, you will see the Git version. However, if there was an issue with the installation, it will return an error. If this is the case, then you should try re-installing Git.
Configuring Git on Ubuntu
After you install Git on Ubuntu, you should configure your username and email address to commit the essential changes.
Set Up Your Git Identity
git config –global user.name “Your Name”
git config –global user.email “[email protected]”
Verify your configuration with:
git config –list
To manually edit the configuration file, run the command:
git config –global –edit
Basic Git Commands to Get Started
Once Git is installed and configured, you can start using it for version control.
Initialize a New Repository:
git init my_project
cd my_project
Clone an Existing Repository
git clone https://github.com/user/repository.git
Check Repository Status
git status
No tracked files because we didn’t commit any files over Git on the actual server.
Add Files to Staging Area
git add filename
git add .
Commit Changes
git commit -m “Initial commit”
Pu Changes to a Remote Repository
git pu origin main
Pull Latest Changes
git pull origin main
Upgrading and Uninstalling Git
Upgrade Git on Ubuntu
If you install Git on Ubuntu via APT, upgrade it using the command lines:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade git -y
Alternatively, if you install Git from source, you can download the latest release and recompile it using the same steps as above.
Uninstall Git on Ubuntu
To remove Git installed via APT:
sudo apt remove –purge git -y
For installations from source, delete Git’s binaries:
sudo rm -rf /usr/local/bin/git
sudo rm -rf /usr/src/git*
Troubleshooting Guide To Install Git on Ubuntu
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
| command not found: git | Git is not installed or not in the system path. | Install Git using sudo apt install git -y, or check the installation path with which git. |
| Unable to fetch updates from a remote repository | Incorrect repository URL or no internet connection. | Verify the remote URL with git remote -v and check your internet connection. |
| Permission denied (publickey) error when using SSH | SSH keys are not set up correctly. | Generate an SSH key using ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 and add it to GitHub/GitLab. |
| Git version not updating after upgrade | Old Git version is still in use. | Restart the terminal and run git –version. If the issue persists, remove old versions using sudo apt remove git before reinstalling. |
| SSL certificate problem: unable to get local issuer certificate | System’s CA certificates are outdated. | Update certificates using sudo apt install –reinstall ca-certificates. |
| fatal: repository not found | The repository URL is incorrect or the repository doesn’t exist. | Double-check the repository URL and confirm it exists. |
| fatal: not a git repository | Running Git commands in a non-Git directory. | Navigate to a Git repository using cd /path/to/repo, or initialize one with git init. |
| Git is too slow when cloning repositories | Large repositories or slow internet connection. | Use git clone –depth=1 <repo_url> for a shallow clone, or improve network speed. |
Wrapping Up – Install Git on Ubuntu
It is an easy process to install Git on Ubuntu and does not require too much technical knowledge. This article is an easy guide to installation, configuring, and troubleshooting issues while using Git with Ubuntu.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I configure Git after installation?
Set up your Git username and email:git config --global user.name "Your Name" git config --global user.email "[email protected]"
2. How do I uninstall Git from Ubuntu?
To remove Git, run:sudo apt remove --purge git -y
3. How do I check if Git is installed?
Use this command to verify the installation:git --version
