Setting Up Git and GitHub on Windows

OJ Watson

Introduction

Welcome to the guide for setting up Git and GitHub on Windows. This guide assumes no prior coding or Git experience.

We will cover:

• Downloading and installing Git.
• Verifying the installation.
• Generating an SSH key.
• Adding the SSH key to GitHub.
• Linking the SSH key with RStudio.

Step 1: Download and Install Git

1. Go to the Git website: https://git-scm.com.
2. Click on Download for Windows.
3. Run the downloaded .exe file.
4. Follow the installation steps:
   • Use the default settings.
   • Click “Next” for all options unless you have specific requirements.
5. Click Finish when done.

Step 2: Check Git is Installed

1. Open the Command Prompt:

   • Press Win + R, type cmd, and press Enter.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

   git --version

3. You should see a version number, e.g., git version 2.x.x.

   • If you see an error, repeat the installation steps.

Step 3: Generate an SSH Key

1. Open the Git Bash application (installed with Git).

2. Run the following command:

   ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"

   • Replace your_email@example.com with your GitHub email address.

3. When prompted:

   • Press Enter to save the key to the default location.
   • (Optional) Enter a passphrase for added security.

4. Your SSH key will be saved to a default location, e.g., C:\Users\YourName\.ssh\id_ed25519.

Step 4: Add the SSH Key to GitHub

1. Display your public SSH key:

   • Run the following command in Git Bash:

     cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

   • Copy the output (Ctrl + C).

2. Log in to your GitHub account.
3. Go to Settings > SSH and GPG keys.
4. Click New SSH key:
   • Title: Give your key a name (e.g., “My Laptop”).
   • Key: Paste the copied key into the text box.
5. Click Add SSH key.
6. Confirm your password if prompted.

Step 5: Test the SSH Connection

1. Open Git Bash.

2. Run the following command:

   ssh -T git@github.com

3. If successful, you will see a message like:

   Hi username! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

   • If there’s an error, check that the SSH key was added correctly.

Step 6: Link SSH Key with RStudio

1. Open RStudio.
2. Go to Tools > Global Options.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on Git/SVN.
4. Check the box labeled Enable version control interface for RStudio.
5. Under the Git executable field, ensure the path points to the Git installation, e.g., C:\Program Files\Git\bin\git.exe.
6. Click Apply and then OK.

Step 7: Configure SSH Key in RStudio

1. Open the Terminal tab in RStudio (found at the bottom-right of the screen).

2. Verify the SSH key is correctly set up by running:

   ssh -T git@github.com

3. If successful, proceed to the next step.

Step 8: Clone a Repository in RStudio

1. Go to your GitHub repository.
2. Click the green Code button and select SSH.
3. Copy the SSH link (e.g., git@github.com:username/repo.git).
4. In RStudio, go to File > New Project > Version Control > Git.
5. Paste the SSH link into the Repository URL field.
6. Choose a directory to save the project and click Create Project.

Congratulations!

You have successfully:

• Installed Git.
• Verified the installation.
• Created and added an SSH key to GitHub.
• Linked the SSH key with RStudio.

You are now ready to use the Git GUI in RStudio to manage your projects and collaborate effectively!