Git is a widely used version control system that allows developers to track changes in their code, collaborate with others, and manage project versions efficiently. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Git on Ubuntu using two methods: the default package manager (APT) and compiling from source.

Method 1: Install Git Using APT

This method is straightforward and quick, suitable for most users.

Step 1: Open Terminal

Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open the terminal.

Step 2: Update Package List

Before installing any software, it’s good practice to update your package list:

sudo apt update

Step 3: Install Git

To install Git from the official Ubuntu repository, run:

sudo apt install git -y

Step 4: Verify Installation

To check if Git was installed successfully, run:

git --version

You should see the installed version of Git displayed.

Method 2: Install Git from Source

If you want to install the latest version of Git, you can compile it from source.

Step 1: Install Required Dependencies

First, install the necessary packages to build Git:

sudo apt install make libssl-dev libcurl4-gnutls-dev libexpat1-dev gettext unzip -y

Step 2: Download the Latest Version of Git

Navigate to the /tmp directory and download the latest version of Git (replace 2.40.1 with your desired version):

cd /tmp
wget https://www.kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/git-2.40.1.tar.gz -O git.tar.gz

Step 3: Extract the Downloaded File

Uncompress the tarball file:

tar -zxf git.tar.gz

Step 4: Navigate to the Extracted Directory

Change into the directory of the extracted files:

cd git-*

Step 5: Compile and Install Git

Run the following commands to compile and install Git:

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

Step 6: Verify Installation

Again, check if Git was installed successfully:

git --version

Step 3: Configure Git

After installing Git, it’s essential to set your username and email address.

Step 1: Set Your Username

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

Step 2: Set Your Email Address

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

Step 3: Verify Configuration

You can check your configuration settings with:

git config --list

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully install and configure Git on your Ubuntu system, whether using APT for a quick installation or compiling from source for the latest version. For further details, refer to the official Git documentation.

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