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Git Configuration

Table of contents​

  1. Configuration levels
  2. Identity configuration
  3. Editor configuration
  4. SSH configuration
  5. Other useful configurations
  6. Verifying the configuration

1 - Configuration levels​


Git uses three configuration levels:

LevelScopeFileOption
SystemAll users/etc/gitconfig--system
GlobalYour user~/.gitconfig--global
LocalA single repository.git/config--local

💡 Priority: Local > Global > System (the most specific wins)

View the current configuration​

# Toute la configuration
git config --list

# Configuration globale uniquement
git config --global --list

# Origine de chaque paramètre
git config --list --show-origin

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2 - Identity configuration​


2.1 Configure your name and email​

This is MANDATORY before making your first commit!

git config --global user.name "Votre Nom"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

⚠️ Important: Use the same email as your GitHub account so your contributions are correctly attributed.

2.2 Verify the configuration​

git config user.name
git config user.email

2.3 Per-project configuration (optional)​

If you work with different identities (personal/professional):

# Dans le dossier du projet
cd mon-projet-pro
git config --local user.name "Jean Dupont"
git config --local user.email "[email protected]"

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3 - Editor configuration​


3.1 Set the default editor​

The editor is used to write commit messages and resolve conflicts.

Visual Studio Code (recommended):

git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

Vim:

git config --global core.editor "vim"

Nano:

git config --global core.editor "nano"

Notepad++ (Windows):

git config --global core.editor "'C:/Program Files/Notepad++/notepad++.exe' -multiInst -notabbar -nosession -noPlugin"

Sublime Text:

git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w"

3.2 Verify the configured editor​

git config core.editor

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4 - SSH configuration​


4.1 Why SSH?​

MethodAdvantagesDrawbacks
HTTPSSimple to set upPrompts for password
SSHNo password, more secureInitial setup required

4.2 Check for existing keys​

ls -la ~/.ssh

Look for files like id_ed25519, id_rsa, etc.

4.3 Generate a new SSH key​

Ed25519 key (recommended):

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "[email protected]"

If Ed25519 is not supported, use RSA:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "[email protected]"

4.4 Answers to the prompts​

Enter file in which to save the key (/home/user/.ssh/id_ed25519): [Appuyez Entrée]
Enter passphrase (empty for no passphrase): [Entrez un mot de passe ou Entrée]
Enter same passphrase again: [Confirmez]

💡 Tip: Add a passphrase for extra security!

4.5 Add the key to the SSH agent​

Linux/macOS:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Windows (Git Bash):

eval $(ssh-agent -s)
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

4.6 Copy the public key​

Linux:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

macOS:

pbcopy < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Windows (Git Bash):

clip < ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

4.7 Add the key to GitHub​

  1. Go to GitHub → Settings → SSH and GPG keys
  2. Click New SSH key
  3. Title: A descriptive name (e.g., "Personal MacBook Pro")
  4. Key type: Authentication Key
  5. Key: Paste your public key
  6. Click Add SSH key

4.8 Test the connection​

ssh -T [email protected]

Expected result:

Hi username! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

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5 - Other useful configurations​


5.1 Default branch​

git config --global init.defaultBranch main

5.2 Line ending management​

Windows:

git config --global core.autocrlf true

macOS/Linux:

git config --global core.autocrlf input

5.3 Colors in the terminal​

git config --global color.ui auto

5.4 Aliases (shortcuts)​

Create shortcuts for frequent commands:

git config --global alias.st status
git config --global alias.co checkout
git config --global alias.br branch
git config --global alias.ci commit
git config --global alias.lg "log --oneline --graph --all"

Usage:

git st      # équivalent à git status
git co main # équivalent à git checkout main
git lg      # log graphique

5.5 Pull configuration​

# Éviter les merges automatiques lors d'un pull
git config --global pull.rebase false

# Ou préférer le rebase
git config --global pull.rebase true

5.6 Credential helper (remember your credentials)​

Windows:

git config --global credential.helper manager

macOS:

git config --global credential.helper osxkeychain

Linux:

git config --global credential.helper cache --timeout=3600

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6 - Verifying the configuration​


6.1 View the entire configuration​

git config --list

Here is a summary of the recommended configuration:

# Identité
git config --global user.name "Votre Nom"
git config --global user.email "[email protected]"

# Éditeur
git config --global core.editor "code --wait"

# Branche par défaut
git config --global init.defaultBranch main

# Fins de ligne (Windows)
git config --global core.autocrlf true

# Couleurs
git config --global color.ui auto

# Alias utiles
git config --global alias.st status
git config --global alias.co checkout
git config --global alias.br branch
git config --global alias.ci commit
git config --global alias.lg "log --oneline --graph --all"

6.3 Resulting ~/.gitconfig file​

[user]
    name = Votre Nom
    email = [email protected]
[core]
    editor = code --wait
    autocrlf = true
[init]
    defaultBranch = main
[color]
    ui = auto
[alias]
    st = status
    co = checkout
    br = branch
    ci = commit
    lg = log --oneline --graph --all

Next step​

Now that Git is configured, let's move on to the core Git workflow commands!

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