THE ONE TRUE METHOD

GIT GUD
AT GITHUB

Stop dragging and dropping files like a peasant. Learn the command line. It's fast, it's raw, and it works.

Git Setup

Install Git (Windows)

Download and run the Git for Windows installer. Defaults are fine for beginners.

Download Git for Windows

https://git-scm.com/download/win

Run the downloaded .exe and follow the installer. After installation, verify:

Verify Git

git --version

Optional: GitHub CLI (Windows)

You can install the GitHub CLI to make authentication easier:

Install gh (winget)

winget install --id GitHub.cli

Install Git (macOS)

Recommended: install via Homebrew. Alternatively, use Xcode Command Line Tools.

Install Homebrew (if needed)

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Install Git (Homebrew)

brew install git

Or: Xcode Command Line Tools

xcode-select --install

Verify Git

git --version

Optional: GitHub CLI (macOS)

Install gh (Homebrew)

brew install gh

Configure Identity

Set your name and email so commits are attributed to you.

Check username

git config --get user.name

Set name

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

Set email

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

Verify your configuration:

Show config

git config --list

Authenticate with GitHub

Use the GitHub CLI to authenticate (recommended). It guides you through a web-based login and makes HTTPS pushes painless.

Start GitHub CLI login

gh auth login

Select GitHub.com.
Choose HTTPS for Git operations (recommended).
Choose Login with a web browser and follow the code flow (enter code at github.com/login/device).

Check GitHub auth

gh auth status

The Workflow

Initialize

Create a new local repository. This tells Git to start watching your folder.

Run once per project

git init

Staging

Select the files you want to save. The . adds everything.

Add all files

git add .

Commit

Wrap your changes in a package with a label. Be descriptive.

Save snapshot

git commit -m "First commit"

Connect

Link your local repo to the specific GitHub URL. This builds the bridge.

Set Destination

git remote add origin <URL>

Liftoff

Send your commits to the cloud. The -u remembers where you pushed for next time.

Upload to Github

git push -u origin main

JAVA EDITION

Scenario: You wrote your first Hello World and need to flex it.

0. The Context

You have a file named Main.java.

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
      System.out.println("Hello World");
    }
}

1. Initialize

Turn this folder into a repository.

git init

2. Stage File

Tell git to track your Java file.

git add Main.java

3. Commit

Save the version history.

git commit -m "Added hello world"

4. Connect Remote

Point your local folder to your GitHub URL.

git remote add origin https://github.com/you/repo.git

5. Push Code

Send it to the internet.

git push -u origin main

REPOSITORY GALLERY

Create a new repository

Empty repository

Initial commit

Pushed files

Branches

Committed changes

Menu

GIT GUDAT GITHUB