How to Installing Git and Create your first Github Account in (Linux)
Tags: webdev, git, beginners, showdev
Published: 2020-02-25 09:28:08

---
title: How to Installing Git and Create your first Github Account in (Linux)
published: true
description: 
tags: #webdev #git #beginners #showdev 
cover_image: https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/axd4li3my77fh9ux1izc.jpg
---

Before we start the procedure of **Git** configuration and creation of your first **Github** account, let me give you a quick explanation about **Git** and **Github**.

#**What is Github?**
**Github** is one of the leading hosting platform/websites that help and allow you(**Developers**) to

1- Host/Store.
2- Manage.
3- Track.
4- Collaborate with other developers.
5- Control any changes you do to your codes by using another great tool called Git.

#**So, What is Git?**
**Git** is an open-source distributed **Version Control System** (VCS) that designed to help you store, manage, track, control...etc your codes in **Github** whether small or large fastly and efficiently.

###**By the way, There are two ways to use Git:**
 1- First Way Called **GUI Git** Applications **GUI Git** is a type of application allow you to use the **Git** interface.

 2- The second way is called the Command Line tool (**CLI**), Which gives you the ability to run **Git** commands from your terminal. (And this is what I will follow to install **Git** in your terminal).

#**Installing Git in (Linux)**
###**Linux Installation Steps**
####**Step 1**
First, update your Linux system by typing the following command in your terminal

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/t1ypeu2jaer2ts7n7041.jpg)


####**Step 2**
Run the below command in your terminal to install Git

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/xrmy1ytic431vo2bw5b8.jpg)

####**Step 3**
Now we need to make **Git** work properly by configuring **Git** and **Github**, And we can do that by setting our personal information with **Git** to enable you to link your local **Git** user (You) to **Github**. The Benefit of this step is that when you work in a project with a team, everyone can see what you committed (**You can consider that as your personal signature**).

Enter this command to set your information with **Git** and please don't forget to type your **name** between the double quotation marks (**Don't delete the quotation marks though**)

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/c7xbjs3fssybypx2xl3r.jpg)

####**Step 4**
Great, we installed **Git** already. What you should do now before you link it to **Github** is, check **Git** work properly by running the below commands

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/3koanb2actqcs5cckp8a.jpg)

####**Step 5**
#####**Create your personal account with GitHub**
Please visit the [Github.com](https://github.com/) website and sign-up your **Username**, **Email**, **Password**. (**you don't need to type the same username and e-mail you used before with git, but it's a good idea if you use the same one**)

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/dt4cdb4zcv0nlqh34d3p.jpg)

####**Step 6**
#####**Create your SSH Key**
**What is the SSH key?** When working with a **GitHub** repository, you'll often need to identify yourself to **GitHub** using your **username** and **password**. An **SSH key** is an alternate way to identify yourself that doesn't require you to enter your username and password every time.
**SSH keys** come in pairs, a public key that gets shared with services like **GitHub**, and a private key that is stored only on your computer. If the keys match, you're granted access.

**Source of ٍStep 6 explanation:** [ Software Carpentry
 ](https://jdblischak.github.io/2014-09-18-chicago/novice/git/05-sshkeys.html)Website.

Let's first check if we have an **SSH key** already installed or not. Type this into your terminal

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/cc9s89peiu3dzwg3bdlj.jpg)

If you got a message in your output: **No such file or directory**, that means you don’t have an **SSH key** and you need to create a one, but if you got a message that you already have a key, then you are good to go to **Step 7**.

- Now let's create your **SSH key**. Run the below command and don't forget to replace what inside the brackets and write your **Email** without including the brackets (**<>**) so the command will look like this **(ssh-keygen -C salma@devcompany.com)**.

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/i2xosxkpxwhdyfma67r8.jpg)

- When it prompts you for a location to save the generated key, just push **Enter**.

- Next, it will ask you for a **password**; enter one if you wish, but it’s not required.

####**Step 7**
#####**Link Your SSH Key with GitHub**
- It's time we tell **Github** what is your **SSH key** so that you can push your code **without typing your password every time**.

- Now go and login **Github**, go to your profile image in the top right corner. Then, click on **Settings in the drop-down menu**. Next, on the left-hand side, click **SSH and GPG keys**. Then, click the **green button** in the top right corner that says **New SSH Key**. Name your key with something descriptive and easy to remember. Leave this window open while you do the next steps.

You need to copy your public **SSH key**. To do this, we’re going to use a command called cat to read the file to the console.

####**Note**
The .pub file extension is important in this case so please run the command below without adding or missing anything

![Alt Text](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/u5m0hxgeh746gdnt62gn.jpg)

- Copy the output, which starts with **ssh-rsa** and ends with your **email address**.

- Do you remember the window that we left it open in **Github** page, go **back to it** please and **paste** the key you copied into the **key field**.

Then, click **Add SSH key**. You’re done! You’ve successfully added your **SSH key!**

####**Step 8**

#####**Test Your SSH connection**
After you've set up your **SSH key** and added it to your **GitHub account**, you can test your connection by **following the instruction** at [Testing your SSH](https://help.github.com/en/github/authenticating-to-github/testing-your-ssh-connection) **Github** webpage.

 **If the output doesn’t correctly match up, then try going through these steps above again**.