GitLab -- Installing Git Client on Windows

To use Git on Windows, you need to install a third-party program which has many configuration options. The following instructions will help you get the Git client installed and working.

First, download the Git client from https://git-scm.com/download/win. Once it's downloaded, run the installer.

Once the installer launches, you'll be asked to agree to the GNU GPL. You'll need to accept this in order to install Git.
WIN10SSH_GPL.PNG

Next, the Git installer will ask if you want to install additional components. The features you need most will likely already be selected, but these are the choices we made when installing:
WIN10GIT_Components.PNG

The next dialog box asks you which editor you'd like to use for Git commits. The default is Vim, which is great for people familiar with Unix; if you are not familiar with Vim, it may be a good idea to choose your preferred editor from the list.
git_default_editor.PNG

The next step asks you to choose the path settings for Git. The path allows other applications and the Windows command line to access the git tools. Unless you know that you want the UNIX tools in your path, you probably want the default setting.
WIN10GIT_Path.PNG

The next setting you can change is the SSH client being used for the connection to Gitlab. Again, most people probably want to use the default setting of built-in OpenSSH unless you know for certain that you would prefer to use the SSH connection from PuTTY or TortoiseSVN. This setting will not change anything about how you connect to Tux, and your Tux configuration in PuTTY will not change anything about how you connect to Gitlab.
WIN10GIT_SSH.PNG

Next, the installer will ask you which SSL method you'd like to use to connect to Git servers. At CCI, we don't use any of the advanced features in the Windows Secure Channel library, so it's best to select OpenSSL.
WIN10GIT_OpenSSL.PNG

The next setting allows you to decide how files are checked in and out on Windows. Because Windows formats text files differently than Unix (eg Mac and Tux), it's best to select the first option, to check files out in Windows format and convert them to Unix format when uploading to the server.
WIN10GIT_crlf.PNG

The next option you're given is which terminal to use for the command-line Git interface. While it can be used with the built-in command prompt, the included (default) terminal it'll install gives some nice features and is recommended for most users.
WIN10GIT_Terminal.PNG

Next, you'll be asked to decide what options to use when you issue the pull command. The default choice of "fast-forward or merge" is the safest choice.
WIN10GIT_Pull.PNG

In the next screen, you can choose a credential manager. This isn't strictly required, but the default option of "Git credential manager" is a safe choice.
WIN10GIT_CredentialManager.PNG

In the second to last options screen, we can choose to enable file system caching and symlinks. File system caching can speed things up at commit, push and pull time, so it should be enabled. Symlink support shouldn't be necessary.
WIN10GIT_Extras.PNG

The final option is to install experimental features. These can be buggy, so it is recommended that you not install these unless you know you want them.
WIN10GIT_Experimental.PNG

Once you've made your selections, you can click the "Install" button and allow Git to install itself. Continue to Gitlab Basics to learn more about how to use Gitlab.