Version Control with Git

Prepare for Version Control with Git

Thursday, September 17, 2026
6:00-9:00 PM Central Time
Bruner Hall, Room 126

No previous Git experience is required. Please complete the steps below before the workshop begins.

What to bring

  • A laptop running macOS, Windows, or Linux
  • Your laptop’s charging cable

Complete these steps before the workshop

  1. Follow the operating-system instructions below to confirm that Git is installed.
  2. Create a free GitHub account if you do not already have one.
  3. Complete the pre-workshop survey. If you already completed the survey for a previous workshop in this series, you do not need to complete it again.
  4. Review The Carpentries Code of Conduct. All workshop participants are expected to follow this Code of Conduct.

Operating-system instructions

Windows

Git is installed as part of Git for Windows, which also provides Git Bash.

If you completed the Windows setup for one of the Unix Shell workshops, Git is already installed. Open Git Bash and continue to Confirm that Git works.

If you did not complete the Unix Shell setup, follow the Windows installation instructions from the Unix Shell workshop before continuing. Those instructions install Git Bash and configure the editor and default branch settings used during this workshop.

If your Tennessee Tech-managed computer prevents installation, contact the ITS Help Desk, visit our open office hours, or bring the computer to the workshop and arrive early.

macOS

  1. Open Terminal from Applications → Utilities, or search for it with Spotlight.
  2. Type the following command and press Return:
git --version
  1. If Git is installed, you will see its version number.
  2. If macOS prompts you to install the command-line developer tools, select Install and follow the instructions.

Do not select “Get Xcode.” The full Xcode application is large and is not required for this workshop.

After installation, you will not see a new Git application in your Applications folder. Git and the command-line developer tools are used through Terminal.

Linux

Git may already be installed. Open a terminal and enter:

git --version

If Git is not installed, use your distribution’s package manager.

For Debian or Ubuntu:

First, update the package information:

sudo apt update

Then install Git:

sudo apt install git
For Fedora:
sudo dnf install git

Create a GitHub account

Parts of the workshop use GitHub to demonstrate sharing and collaborating on repositories. Basic GitHub accounts are free.

Before creating your account, consider what personal information you want associated with the account. GitHub provides instructions for keeping your email address private.

If you do not already have an account, create one before the workshop:

Create a GitHub account

After creating the account:

  1. Verify your email address.
  2. Complete GitHub’s two-factor authentication setup if prompted.
  3. Confirm that you can sign in successfully.

Confirm that Git works

Open Git Bash on Windows or Terminal on macOS or Linux and enter:

git --version

You should see output similar to:

git version 2.51.0

Your exact version number may be different. If the command displays a Git version without an error, Git is ready.

Need help? Bring your laptop to our open office hours from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Clement Hall, Room 218, or join office hours through Microsoft Teams. If you still need assistance on the workshop date, bring your laptop and arrive a few minutes early.