Step-by-step guide to installing Git on your system and setting up your initial configuration.
Before you can start using Git, you need to install it on your computer. The installation process varies depending on your operating system—Windows, macOS, or Linux. Once installed, you should perform a one-time configuration to set your identity. This is crucial because every commit you make will be stamped with this information, making it clear who made which changes. The two most important settings to configure are your username and email address. You can set these globally, meaning they will be used for every repository on your system. This is done using the `git config --global` command. Setting your identity ensures that your contributions are properly attributed, which is especially important when you start collaborating with others on projects hosted on platforms like GitHub. You can also configure other settings, like your default text editor, but setting your name and email is the essential first step.