git init

Create a new Repository with Git Init 

Before starting any code development, developers need a new repository to track changes and collaborate on the work. Here comes the command git init. It is an initial command from the list of git commands.

This tutorial includes creating a git repository using the Linux command line Interface. Examples in this tutorial are based on CentOs7 and assume that git is already installed on the machine.

Steps for creating a new repository from the start:

  • Create a new directory structure – that will contain the project files. 
  • After moving into the directory, execute the git init – to initialize the repository.
  • Develop the initial code (maybe a simple readme file) – the initial files.
  • Use git add – adds new files for the next check-in
  • Type git commit – sends new files to the local repository

How to create a new repository with an existing project?

For an existing project. The steps are similar to the above. The difference is that we can create a ignore list for unwanted or temporary files. Following are the steps

  • Move to the project folder
  • Type git init
  • Add all the files – git add command. You may also use git add .gitignore
  • Execute git commit.

Types of git repositories (Local and Bare)?

Now you know, theoretically, how to create a repository for you and your team? But a default is not suitable for you. In this section, we will describe the types of git repositories. There are two types, one is local, and another is shared (or bare).

Local or personal :

The Git init command creates a repository with actual files. The directory created is the working directory. That includes a  full working tree. The directory has a .git directory folder for all revision history. All files present in the working directory are checkout copies of all files.

This is suitable for you if you are the only repository user. I guess here, not as you have a team. I want the git repository to be accessible to all developers.

Shared or bare:

Another type of repository is a bare repository. A bare git repository is created by using the –bare option with the git init command. A bare repository can be shared among multiple developers over the network. Developers need to know the URL and login credentials for the repository.

If you want to avail a repository to all developers in your team, creating a bare repository is good for you and the team.

Git repository server location:

From where the git repository will be accessed? From inside office premises (over LAN)? Or from anywhere? If from anywhere, then the repository hosting server should have public IP, or you can also choose existing platforms, GitHub, bitbucket, etc.

If due to limitation or any other factor, if the requirement is, give access from office premises/LAN only. Then a machine on LAN (Local Area Network, which has an internal IP address ) is a suitable option.

In this tutorial, the git repository will be created on a Linux machine in LAN. The machine’s IP address that will host the git repository is 192.168.1.159. The git user is the root user of the Linux machine. You can create a new user for accessing the git repository. For simplicity, the user is a root user in this example.

Create git bare repository:

The following are the Linux commands for creating a Git repository accessible by multiple developers.

After ssh on machine 192.168.1.159

[root@CentOS_6_64-159 ~]# cd /
[root@CentOS_6_64-159 /]#
[root@CentOS_6_64-159 /]# mkdir myrepository.git
[root@CentOS_6_64-159 /]# cd myrepository.git/
[root@CentOS_6_64-159 myrepository.git]#
[root@CentOS_6_64-159 myrepository.git]# git --bare init

The Above will create a bare repository. Now assign the bare repository a working tree.

  • Do SSH  on another machine (192.168.1.160) in the same LAN.
  • Will create a local repository (git init command),
  • Add a new file (git add command) and commit the new file (git commit).
  • Push the code changes to the central repository.
[root@CentOS_6_64-160 gitdevelopment]# git init
[root@CentOS_6_64-160 gitdevelopment]# git add firstFile.c
[root@CentOS_6_64-160 gitdevelopment]# git commit -m "First Commit to Bare Repository"
[root@CentOS_6_64-160 gitdevelopment]# git remote add origin root@192.168.1.159:/myrepository.git
[root@CentOS_6_64-160 gitdevelopment]# git push origin master

Note: It will prompt for the password, enter the password for user root on machine  192.168.1.159

The remote repository is ready with the working tree. Other users must clone from machine 192.168.1.159  to machine 192.168.1.155 in the same LAN. Ssh to a machine. The git clone command is in it, so clone a git repository on a local machine.

[root@CentOS_6_64-155 gitexample]# git clone root@192.168.1.159:/myrepository.git
Note: It will prompt for the password, enter the password for user root on machine  192.168.1.159[root@CentOS_6_64-155 gitexample]# cd myrepository/Note: You can see the file, [root@CentOS_6_64-155 myrepository]# ls
firstFile.c
[root@CentOS_6_64-155 myrepository]#
Note: Now add a new file secondFile.c, first create a file with vim.[root@CentOS_6_64-155 myrepository]# git add secondFile.c
[root@CentOS_6_64-155 myrepository]# git commit -m "Added Second File"
[root@CentOS_6_64-155 myrepository]# git push
Note: It will prompt for the password, enter the password for user root on machine  192.168.1.159

Great:) The git repository is ready. You can invite other developers to work on this.