Running Project: my-notes
This is Step 1 of a project you'll carry through all 7 hands-on posts. Each post starts where the previous one ended. By the end of this post, your machine is configured and your GitHub account exists — everything you need before touching a repository.
What you'll need: A computer with internet access. Nothing else yet.
What you'll have at the end: Git installed and confirmed, identity configured, GitHub account created, username recorded.
Step 1 — Open a Terminal
Why: Every Git operation in this series runs through the terminal. Git is a command-line tool — there is no standard GUI that covers everything Git can do, so learning the commands directly means your skills transfer across machines, operating systems, and team environments.
Which terminal to use:
- Windows: Open Git Bash — installed with Git. Start Menu → search "Git Bash".
- Mac: Open Terminal — Applications → Utilities → Terminal, or press ⌘+Space and type "Terminal".
- Linux: Open your default terminal emulator.
Self-check: A command prompt appears with a blinking cursor. It's waiting for input.
Step 2 — Verify Git Is Installed
Why: Confirm Git is on this machine and that your terminal can find it. Being "installed" and being "on the PATH" are two different things. The installer must have added Git to the system PATH for the terminal to recognise the git command.
Command:
git --version
Expected output:
git version 2.45.2.windows.1
Your exact version number will differ. Any version 2.28 or later is sufficient for this entire series.
If you see "command not found" or "git is not recognized": Git is not installed, or the installer did not modify the PATH. Download the installer from git-scm.com/downloads and run it with the default settings. On Windows, restart Git Bash after installation and retry.
Self-check: A version number appears. No error messages.
Step 3 — Configure Your Identity
Why: Every commit permanently records your name and email. Git will refuse to create a commit without this configured. This is a one-time setup per machine — once set globally, it applies to every repository you use on this computer.
Commands:
git config --global user.name "Your Full Name" git config --global user.email "your@email.com"
Replace the quoted values with your actual name and the email address you'll use on GitHub. The email is how GitHub links your local commits to your profile — use the same address in both places.
Verify the setup:
git config --list
Expected output (relevant lines):
user.name=Your Full Name user.email=your@email.com
You'll see additional lines — Git's other default settings. The user.name and user.email lines are what matter here.
Self-check: Your name and email appear in the list exactly as you typed them. These values will be permanently attached to every commit you make on this machine.
Step 4 — Create a GitHub Account
Why: GitHub hosts your repositories remotely. In Part 5 of this series, you'll push the my-notes project to GitHub and it will exist in two places: your machine and the cloud. Setting up the account now means you won't need to interrupt the hands-on flow later.
Steps:
- Open your browser. Go to github.com.
- Click Sign up.
- Choose a username. This is permanent and public — it appears in every repository URL you create and on your developer profile. Use your real name or a professional handle.
raushan-ranjanorraushan-devis professional.cool_coder_2026will feel different five years from now. - Enter your email address. Use the same one you set in Step 3.
- Choose a password.
- Complete the verification puzzle.
- Check your inbox and click the verification link GitHub sends. Without this step, you cannot create repositories.
Self-check: You can log in to github.com and view your profile at github.com/your-username.
Step 5 — Record Your Username
Why: You'll need your exact GitHub username when constructing remote repository URLs in Part 5 (git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/my-notes.git). Write it down now so you don't have to look it up mid-exercise.
Your GitHub username: _______________________
Self-check: You have your username written somewhere you can find it in a future session.
State at the End of This Post
- Git installed, version confirmed (2.28+)
- Name and email configured globally with
git config --global - GitHub account created and email verified
- Username recorded for use in Part 5
Part 2 starts here — where git commit will stamp your name and email on the very first snapshot of my-notes.