How to Set Up Bitbucket on Windows: A Step-by-Step Guide

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

BitbucketWindowsSetupInstallationConfigurationSoftwareToolsProgrammingDeveloperGit

Bitbucket is a web-based version control repository hosting service owned by Atlassian. It is primarily used for source code and development projects, offering both free accounts with an unlimited number of private repositories and paid accounts with additional features. Bitbucket supports the following: Git, Mercurial, code collaboration, and CI/CD. Setting up Bitbucket on the Windows operating system involves several steps, but once you know them, the process is quite straightforward. This guide will walk you through the process in detail, ensuring you have everything you need to start using Bitbucket effectively.

1. Installing Git on your Windows system

Before using Bitbucket, you need to install Git on your Windows machine. Git is the built-in system that Bitbucket uses to manage version control. Follow the steps below to install Git:

1. Visit the official Git download page.
2. Click "Windows" to download the Git installer for Windows.
3. Once the download is complete, open the installer to begin the installation process.
4. Approve any prompts that appear by clicking "Run" and then "Yes."
5. Follow the installation wizard, accepting the default options unless you have any specific preferences or requirements. Usually, it is enough to click "Next" until the installation begins.
6. Once the installation is complete, click “Finish” to exit the installer.

Now that Git is installed on your Windows machine, you can verify the installation by opening a command prompt and typing the following command:

git --version

This command will return the current version of Git installed on your machine, indicating that the installation was successful.

2. Creating a Bitbucket account

To use Bitbucket, you must have an account. Follow the steps below to create a new Bitbucket account:

1. Go to the Bitbucket website.
2. Click "Get Started for Free."
3. Fill out the required information in the registration form, such as your email address and password.
4. Click “Sign Up” to create your account.
5. You may need to verify your email address by clicking on a verification link sent to your email. Check your email inbox and follow the instructions provided.

Once you complete these steps, your Bitbucket account will be activated, allowing you to create and manage your repositories.

3. Creating your first Bitbucket repository

After you've set up your Bitbucket account, you can now create your first repository. Follow these steps to do so:

1. Login to your Bitbucket account.
2. Click the "Repositories" link at the top of the page and select "Create Repository."
3. Fill the form with the required details:
   • Repository name: Give your repository a descriptive name.
   • Project: Select an existing project or create a new one.
   • Access level: Choose between private and public access.
   • Version control system: Choose Git.
4. Click “Create Repository” to finalize the creation process.

You have successfully created your first Bitbucket repository. It is empty right now, but you can now add code to it.

4. Cloning the repository to your local machine

Once your repository is created, the next step is to clone it to your local machine so you can add, edit, and manage the code files. Here is how you can clone the repository:

1. On the main page of your repository in Bitbucket, find the "Clone" option, usually located in the top right.
2. Copy the HTTPS URL of your repository.
3. Open command prompt on your windows machine.
4. Use cd command to navigate to the directory where you want to clone your repository.
5. Type the following command, replacing your-repo-url with the link you copied earlier:

git clone your-repo-url

Now the repository will be cloned to your local machine, and you can start working on your code.

5. Adding and committing the code

Once you have cloned the repository, you can start adding files and making changes to your repository. Here's how:

1. Go to the directory of your cloned repository (if you're not there already).
2. Create or edit files in the repository as needed.
3. Add your new or changed files to Git's staging area using git add command:

git add .

This command stages all changes to the repository.

1. Commit the changes with a meaningful message using git commit command:

git commit -m "Your commit message"

Replace "Your commit message" with a brief description of the changes you made.

Your changes have now been committed to the local version of your repository.

6. Committing changes to Bitbucket

The next step is to push your local changes to the remote repository on Bitbucket. Here's how to do it:

1. Make sure you are in the repository's directory.
2. Use the following command to push your committed changes to Bitbucket:

git push origin main

Assume main is your default branch; if "main" is different then replace it with the actual branch name.

Your changes are now live on Bitbucket, and you can share them with others or use them in your project's CI/CD pipeline.

7. Fetching and merging updates

When working in a team, other people can make changes to the same repository. To stay updated with these changes, you need to fetch and merge them into your local repository. Here's how you can do that:

1. Get the latest changes from the repository using the command:

git fetch origin

1. If there are any updates, merge them into your local branch using the following:

git merge origin/main

Again, if "main" is different then replace it with your branch name.

By regularly fetching and merging updates, you ensure that your local copy of the repository is in sync with the remote copy.

8. Dealing with merge conflicts

Sometimes, conflicts can arise when two people change the same file. This results in merge conflicts, which need to be resolved manually. Here's how you resolve merge conflicts:

1. Identify conflicting files; Git will display them in the output.
2. Open the conflicting file(s) in a text editor. You'll see conflict markers indicating where the conflicting files are, such as:

<<<<<< HEAD Your changes ======== Changes from the remote repository >>>>>>

1. Edit the file to resolve conflicts. Remove the conflict marks and adjust the code as needed.
2. After you resolve the conflicts, make the changes as follows:

git add conflict-file

1. Commit the resolved changes with a meaningful commit message:

git commit -m "Resolved merge conflict"

Your merge conflicts are now resolved, allowing you to continue working with a clean codebase.

9. Advanced commands and tips

Bitbucket and Git provide many commands that can help you manage your repositories more efficiently. Below are some advanced commands and tips:

• Branching: Use git branch branch-name to create a new branch. Switch to it using git checkout branch-name.
• Pull Request: After pushing changes to a feature branch, go to Bitbucket to create a pull request. This allows code review before merging the branch into the main codebase.
• Rebasing: Use git rebase branch-name to reapply changes based on another branch. This keeps your commit history clean and linear.
• Stash: Use git stash to temporarily save your changes without committing them. Retrieve them later with git stash pop.

10. Conclusion

Setting up Bitbucket on your Windows system may seem complicated initially, but by following these steps, you can handle most situations smoothly. From installing Git and creating a Bitbucket account to managing repositories, you should now have a good understanding of how to get started with Bitbucket. As you continue working with Bitbucket, you will become more comfortable with the flow of using Git commands and the version control system, which will greatly enhance your productivity in collaborative projects.

As you become more proficient, don’t forget to explore the more advanced features of Git and Bitbucket. Happy coding!

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update