How to setup repository in GIT in local machine and connect to Github (Mac M5 Air)

Check if git is installed in your machine

> git --version

It should return a version

git version 2.50.1 (Apple Git-155)

If it isn’t, a popup will appear asking you to install Xcode Command Line Tools. Click Install and accept the terms. macOS will download and install Git automatically.

Login to terminal

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

Notes:

1. “ — global” means the same config would be used in every git repo in the machine

To set default branch name, run the below command

git config --global init.defaultBranch <branch_name> # eg. main or master

To ensure everything saved correctly, run:

command : git config --list

Result :
credential.helper=osxkeychain
init.defaultbranch=main
user.name="Your Name"
user.email="yourname@example.com"
init.defaultbranch="branch_name"

Create a SSH Key

• Create a SSH key to connect with Github
• ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your.email@example.com" Press enter until the key is generated
• View the SSH key
• cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
• Copy the SSH key
• pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Login to Github and initialise project

• Go to **GitHub.com** and log in.
• Click your profile picture (top right) → Settings.
• In the left sidebar, click SSH and GPG keys.
• Click the green New SSH key button.
• Give it a title (like “My Mac”) and paste the key into the Key box. Click Add SSH key.

Initialise GIT in project

Navigate to the folder

cd /path_to_the_folder

• Initialise git in the folder
• git init
• All all files to git
• git add .
• Add initial commit
• git commit -m "Initial commit"

Connect local repo to github

git remote add origin git@github.com:RakeshM7/dsa-interview-prep.git
git branch -M main
git push -u origin main

Happy coding and collaborating!