Setting up a repository

Setting up a repository | Git init

What is `git init`?

The git init command is used to create a new Git repository in a project. This initializes an empty .git directory, which will store all the version history, branches, and configuration settings.

When to Use `git init`?

When starting a new project from scratch.
When adding Git version control to an existing project.
When recovering a lost .git folder in an untracked project.

How to Use `git init`

1. Navigate to Your Project Directory

Open your terminal or command prompt and go to the folder where you want to create a Git repository.

cd path/to/your/project

2. Initialize the Git Repository

Run the following command to initialize Git in your project:

git init

This creates a hidden .git folder inside the project directory, which stores all Git-related data.

3. Verify Initialization

To check if Git was initialized successfully, run:

git status

If the repository is empty, you'll see an output like this:

On branch main  
No commits yet  
nothing to commit (create/copy files and use "git add" to track)

4. Add Files to Git

Once your repository is initialized, add files to track them:

git add .

5. Commit the Changes

Save the current state of your project by making an initial commit:

git commit -m "Initial commit"

6. (Optional) Connect to a Remote Repository

If you want to link your local repository to a remote repository like GitHub:

git remote add origin https://github.com/your-username/repository-name.git  
git push -u origin main

Conclusion

The git init command is the first step in setting up version control for a project. By initializing a repository, you can start tracking changes, collaborating with others, and managing your project's history effectively.

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Souy Soeng

Setting up a repository | Git init