# Start using Git on the commandline

If you want to start using a Git and GitLab, make sure that you have created an account on [GitLab.com](https://about.gitlab.com/)

## Open a shell

* Depending on your operating system, find the shell of your preference. Here are some suggestions

- [Terminal](http://blog.teamtreehouse.com/introduction-to-the-mac-os-x-command-line) on  Mac OSX

- [GitBash](https://msysgit.github.io) on Windows

- [Linux Terminal](http://www.howtogeek.com/140679/beginner-geek-how-to-start-using-the-linux-terminal/) on Linux

## Check if Git has already been installed

* Git is usually preinstalled on Mac and Linux

* Type the following command and then press enter

```
git --version
```

* You should receive a message that will tell you which Git version you have in your computer. If you don’t receive a "Git version" message, it means that you need to [download Git](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Getting-Started-Installing-Git)

* If Git doesn't automatically download, there's an option on the website to [download manually](https://git-scm.com/downloads). Then follow the steps on the installation window

* After you finished installing, open a new shell and type "git --version" again to verify that it was correctly installed

## Add your Git username and set your email

* It is important because every Git commit that you create will use this information

* On your shell, type the following command to add your username

```
git config --global user.name ADD YOUR USERNAME
```

* Then verify that you have the correct username

```
git config --global user.name
```

* To set your email address, type the following command

```
git config --global user.email ADD YOUR EMAIL
```

* To verify that you entered your email correctly, type

```
git config --global user.email
```

* You'll need to do this only once because you are using the "--global" option. It tells Git to always use this information for anything you do on that system. If you want to override this with a different username or email address for specific projects, you can run the command without the "--global" option when you’re in that project

## Check your information

* To view the information that you entered, type

```
git config --global --list
```