Resources

Working with Git

A step-by-step guide to setting up a git project on your local machine. It also includes switching repos, debugging and more.

Git Guide for Product Managers

1. What is Git and Why is it Helpful?

What is Git?

Git is a version control system (VCS) that allows multiple people to work on a project without overwriting each other's work. It keeps track of changes, enables collaboration, and ensures code stability by allowing rollbacks to previous versions if needed.

Why is Git Useful for Product Managers?

  • Code Collaboration: Helps PMs collaborate with developers and understand the development workflow.
  • Change Tracking: Keeps track of modifications to codebases.
  • Safe Experimentation: Allows developers to try new features without affecting the main code.
  • Version Control: Ensures that past versions of the project can be accessed if needed.

2. How to Set Up a Git Account

To use Git with remote repositories (such as GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket), follow these steps:

  1. Choose a Git Service (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, etc.).
  2. Create an Account:
    • Visit GitHub and sign up.
    • Follow the instructions to verify your email and set up two-factor authentication for security.
  3. Set Up an SSH Key (Recommended for Authentication): This set up helps your computer authenticate with the remote repository without entering your username and password every time you push or pull.
    • Open your terminal (Mac/Linux) or Git Bash (Windows).
    • Run: 
      ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your-email@example.com"
    • Copy the key to your clipboard: 
      cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
    • Add this key to your GitHub account under Settings → SSH and GPG keys.

3. How to Set Up Git in Your Local System and Authenticate with the Remote

Install Git

Windows

  1. Download and install Git from git-scm.com.
  2. Open Git Bash and verify installation: 
    git --version

Mac (via Homebrew)

brew install git

Linux (Ubuntu/Debian)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install git

Configure Git Locally

Once Git is installed, set up your user details:

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

Authenticate with Remote Repository

Using HTTPS (Password-Based)

  • When pushing code, GitHub will prompt you to enter your username and personal access token.
  1. Ensure SSH key is added to GitHub.
  2. Test the connection: 
    ssh -T git@github.com
    If successful, you should see a message like: Hi username! You've successfully authenticated.

4. How to Set Up a New Repository

Create a Repository on GitHub

  1. Go to GitHub and click New Repository.
  2. Name your repo and choose Public or Private.
  3. Initialize with a README (optional) and click Create Repository.

Set Up a Local Repository

  1. Open your terminal and navigate to your project folder: 
    cd path/to/your/project
  2. Initialize Git: 
    git init
  3. Connect the local repo to GitHub: 
    git remote add origin git@github.com:your-username/repository-name.git
  4. Add and commit files: 
    git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
  5. Push code to GitHub: 
    git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

5. How to Clone an Existing Repository and Switch to Your Git Account

Clone a Repository

To work on an existing project:

git clone git@github.com:username/repository-name.git

Or, using HTTPS:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository-name.git

Switch to Your Git Account

If you've cloned a repo that belongs to someone else and want to push changes under your account:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:your-username/repository-name.git

Verify the Remote URL

git remote -v

You should see:

origin  git@github.com:your-username/repository-name.git (fetch)
origin  git@github.com:your-username/repository-name.git (push)

This guide provides a structured approach for product managers to get started with Git. With this setup, you can confidently collaborate with developers, track changes, and contribute to projects effectively.