10 minlesson

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Before starting this workshop, make sure you have the following set up. This checklist ensures you can follow along with every lab.

Required Tools

Git ≥ 2.44

Git is the core tool for this entire workshop. Version 2.44+ includes important features we'll use.

bash
1$ git --version
2git version 2.44.0

If your version is older, update Git:

  • Windows: Download from git-scm.com or use winget install Git.Git
  • macOS: Run brew install git or download from git-scm.com
  • Linux: Use your package manager (e.g., sudo apt install git)

GitHub Account with SSH Key

You'll need a GitHub account with SSH authentication configured. This allows secure pushing and pulling without entering passwords.

Test your SSH connection:

bash
1$ ssh -T git@github.com
2Hi username! You've successfully authenticated, but GitHub does not provide shell access.

If you see "Permission denied", you need to set up SSH keys:

  1. Generate a key: ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_email@example.com"
  2. Add to ssh-agent: eval "$(ssh-agent -s)" then ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519
  3. Add public key to GitHub: Settings → SSH and GPG keys → New SSH key

Editor + Terminal Access

You'll need a code editor and terminal. Any combination works:

  • VS Code with integrated terminal
  • Terminal app + vim/nano
  • Any IDE with terminal support

Optional Helpers

These tools enhance the Git experience but aren't required:

GitHub CLI (gh)

The GitHub CLI lets you create repos, open PRs, and manage issues from the terminal.

bash
1$ gh --version
2gh version 2.40.0
3

4$ gh auth status
5✓ Logged in to github.com as username

Install: brew install gh (macOS) or winget install GitHub.cli (Windows)

Delta (Better Diffs)

Delta provides syntax-highlighted, side-by-side diffs that are much easier to read.

bash
1$ delta --version
2delta 0.16.5

Install: brew install git-delta or see dandavison/delta

pre-commit

Automates code quality checks before each commit.

bash
1$ pre-commit --version
2pre-commit 3.5.0

Install: pip install pre-commit or brew install pre-commit

Quick Checklist

Before proceeding, verify:

  • git --version shows 2.44 or higher
  • ssh -T git@github.com authenticates successfully
  • You have a terminal and editor ready
  • (Optional) gh auth status shows logged in
  • (Optional) delta --version works if you want better diffs

What's Next

Once your prerequisites are confirmed, you'll configure Git with your identity and preferences in the next topic. This one-time setup ensures your commits are properly attributed and your workflow is optimized.

Key Takeaway

A properly configured environment prevents frustrating issues later. Taking 10 minutes now to verify your setup will save hours of troubleshooting during the labs.