Git is a version control and project management system. Git also helps keep track of what has changed, and therefore, what progress has been made. Git is an industry standard version control system, so learning it here will help you in the future. There are some great Git tutorials out there, here is a helpful intro.

The Formula Electric git is at http://git.mst.edu but requires access. Ask the CAO for the permissions to access.

What is Git?

Git, in most basic terms, helps our team manage our files. It stores them in a shared database so we can keep track of what work has been done, as well as find any files that have been created. These files can be anything, from code files or CAD drawings. By managing all of the files, the team ensures no work gets lost, and in turn, keeps us from wasting hours.

How it works

The basics are as follows: A user can go into the Formula Electric Git and find a repository (folder) that has the files they need to work on. Once that repository is found, the user can "clone" (download) the repository to their personal device. Once this is done, the user can edit the contents of the file. When a user is ready to submit those file to the online repository (the one in the shared database), the user can stage (prepare for upload) the files using the Git Bash (or other Git interfaces with SSH Key and dependency management) to prepare them for the upload. Once the files are prepared to upload, the user can "commit" (establish a new version of the database) the changes to the repository. This is when the version control takes place, as the new "commit" makes a new version of the repository, as such, the user should make sure to write a descriptive "commit message" (title). The final step is to "push" (upload) the files to the actual shared database on the Formula Electric Git.

Git Bash

Git Bash is the standard way of working with Git. It lets you interface through a command line. While there are many GUIs out there to interface with Git, many don't interface well with our team's Gitlab due to dependencies and the required SSH Key.

Getting Set Up

Setting up SSH Key

• After downloading Git, follow this tutorial to set up your SSH Key.
• Save your SSH keys (both files) to somewhere where you won't lose it.
  • If you plan on using Git on multiple devices, you should save it on the cloud for easy access in the future.
• After you have this file, go to the Formula Electric Git page (linked above, make sure you've been granted access) and go to your settings (by clicking on the profile picture on the top right).
• Look for the small key icon on the left (when you hover over it, it should say "SSH keys") and click on it.
• Open the SSH key file (the one that ends in .pub) from the folder where you saved it.
• Copy / Paste the text from the file into the large text box on the SSH key page on Git.
• Give your key a descriptive title and then hit the "Add Key" button.

You should now be ready to use all of the Git functionalities, such as cloning repositories onto your personal device.

Cloning a Repository

• After you've found the repository you want to clone (download onto your device) on the git, you can copy the ssh link from the "clone" button on the repository page.