How to Set Up and Use Git in Visual Studio Code

Edited 4 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Version control systems are crucial in modern software development, and Git is one of the most popular. It helps developers keep track of code changes, collaborate efficiently, and manage projects effectively. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a popular, lightweight editor that has Git integrated directly into its interface. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive explanation showing how to set up and use Git in Visual Studio Code.

Table of contents

1. What is Git?
2. What is Visual Studio code?
3. Setting up Git for the first time
4. Installing Visual Studio Code
5. Integrating Git with Visual Studio Code
6. Basic Git commands in VS Code
7. Advanced Git operations
8. Best practices for using Git
9. Conclusion

What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system created in 2005 by Linus Torvalds. It is designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. With Git, developers can track changes to source code during software development. This allows multiple developers to work on a project simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes. Git enables branching, which allows you to work independently on different lines of development. Using Git, developers can maintain a history of changes, collaborate more effectively, and revert to a previous state of the project when needed.

What is Visual Studio code?

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is a free, open-source code editor developed by Microsoft, available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It includes support for debugging, syntax highlighting, intelligent code completion, snippets, code refactoring, and embedded Git. Due to its versatility and rich feature set, VS Code is one of the most popular code editors among developers. It can be extended through plugins and has a vibrant community that contributes to its development and ecosystem.

Setting up Git for the first time

Downloading and installing Git

To use Git with VS Code, you first need to install Git on your computer. Follow these steps to install Git on your system:

• Windows:
  1. Go to the official Git website and download the latest Git installer for Windows.
  2. Run the installer and follow the setup instructions. Unless you have a special preference, use the default settings.
  3. Complete the installation process.
• Mac OS:
  1. You can install Git using the Xcode command line tools. Open a terminal window and type: git --version.
  2. If Git is not already installed, it will prompt you to install it via the Xcode command line tool. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
• Linux:
  1. Open a terminal and use your distribution's package manager to install Git. For example, on Debian-based distributions, use: sudo apt install git.
  2. Follow the instructions in the terminal to complete the installation.

Configuring Git

After you install Git, you'll need to set up your identity to ensure that your commits are correctly attributed to you. To do this, open a terminal or command prompt and enter the following command:

git config --global user.name "<Your Name>" git config --global user.email "<Your Email>"

Replace <Your Name> and <Your Email> with your actual name and email address.

Installing Visual Studio Code

If you haven't installed Visual Studio Code yet, follow these steps to download and install it:

1. Go to the Visual Studio Code website.
2. Download the stable release for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
3. Run the downloaded installer and follow the installation instructions.

Once installed, you can launch Visual Studio Code from your Applications menu and start exploring its features.

Integrating Git with Visual Studio Code

Checking the Git installation

Make sure Git is installed correctly and can be accessed from Visual Studio Code. To verify, open Visual Studio Code and go to View > Terminal to open the built-in terminal. Type the following command:

git --version

This command will return the installed Git version, confirming that setup was successful. If it doesn't, you may need to add Git to your system's PATH environment variable.

Using the Git Panel

Visual Studio Code provides an integrated and intuitive Git panel. To access Git features, click the Source Control icon on the left sidebar, which is represented by a branch icon. Here, you can view changes to your project and access all the essential Git functionalities.

Basic Git commands in VS Code

Creating a new repository

To start a new Git repository in any local folder:

1. Open the directory you want to track in Visual Studio Code via File > Open Folder....
2. Go to Source Control Panel and click on Initialize Repository.

This will install a new Git repository in the specified folder.

Cloning an existing repository

To clone an existing repository from GitHub or another Git hosting service:

1. Click the Source Control icon in the sidebar.
2. Click on the Clone Repository button.
3. Provide the URL of the Git repository.
4. Select the local folder where you want to clone the repository.

Committing to Change

After you make changes to your files, you can commit these changes. A commit is a snapshot of your repository at a specific point in time:

1. Save all changes in your editor.
2. Navigate to the Source Control Panel.
3. You will see a list of modified files. Enter a meaningful commit message in the text box provided.
4. Press Ctrl + Enter (or Cmd + Enter on macOS) to apply your changes.

Pushing changes to a remote repository

Once committed locally, you may want to send your changes to a remote repository such as GitHub:

1. Open the Source Control Panel.
2. Click the ellipsis (…) to see more options, then click Push.

This will upload your local changes to the remote server.

Pulling changes from a remote repository

You may need to pull the latest changes from the remote repository to sync with new updates made by others:

1. Navigate to the Source Control pane.
2. Click the ellipsis (…) and select Bridge.

This updates your local repository with any new changes from the remote source.

Advanced Git operations

In the branches

Branches allow you to work on different parts of a project without affecting the main codebase:

• Creating a new branch:

  git branch <new-branch-name>

• Switching branches:

  git checkout <branch-name>

• Merging branches: To merge another branch into your current branch:

  git merge <branch-name>

Resolving merge conflicts

Conflicts occur when there are changes in two branches to the same line of a file. In VS Code, any conflicts that exist during the merge will be highlighted. You will be asked to resolve them manually:

• Open the conflicting file. The sections that have conflicts will be clearly marked, with options to accept either incoming or current changes, or accept both.
• Decide on the correct changes and edit the file accordingly until all conflicts are resolved.
• Stage and commit the changes to finalize the merge.

Hiding changes

Sometimes, while you're working, you may need to switch branches or return the working directory to a clean state without committing. You can temporarily stash changes:

git stash

To apply the stored changes later, use:

git stash apply

Best practices for using Git

Write clear commitment messages

Commit messages should be clear and descriptive. Briefly explain what the change does and why it was necessary. This practice helps other developers (and your future self) understand the evolution of the project.

Commit often, try often

Commit small changes often with meaningful messages. This makes it easier to track down issues and understand changes. Similarly, push frequently to keep the remote repository up-to-date with your changes, which encourages collaboration.

Use branches

Use branches to your advantage by keeping experimental or new features separate from the main codebase. Merge only when your code is stable and ready for others to use or review.

Make changes regularly

Get into the habit of regularly pulling changes from the remote repository. This keeps your local repository updated and reduces merge conflicts.

Conclusion

Using Git with Visual Studio Code gives developers an efficient and streamlined workflow for managing projects. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up Git to work seamlessly within VS Code. With a solid understanding of basic and advanced Git operations, as well as following best practices, you will be better equipped to handle version control in your software development projects.

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