Setting up a Git Repository

Importing

To import an existing project or directory into Git, follow these steps using the Terminal or Command Line:

1. Switch to the target project’s directory

   Example:

   $ cd test (cd = change directory)

2. Use the git init command

   $ git init

• Note: At this stage, you have created a new subdirectory named .git that has the repository files. Tracking has not commenced.

1. To start tracking these repository files, perform an initial commit by typing the following:

$ git add *.c $ git add LICENSE $ git commit -m “any message here”

Now, your files are tracked and there’s an initial commit. We will discuss the particular commands in detail soon.

Cloning

You can also create a copy of an existing Git repository from a particular server by using the clone command with a repository’s URL:

$ git clone https://github.com/test

By cloning the file, you have copied all versions of all files for a project. This command leads to the creation of a directory called “test,” with an initialized .git directory inside it, which has copies of all versions of all files for the specified project. The command also automatically checks out — or retrieves for editing — a copy of the newest version of the project.

To clone a repository into a directory with another name of your choosing, use the following command format:

$ git clone https://github.com/test mydirectory

The command above makes a copy of the target repository in a directory named “mydirectory.”