Git Config(s)

System level

Aapplied to every user on the system and all their repositories.

• to view, git config --list --system (may need sudo)
• to set, git config --system color.ui true
• to edit system config file: git config --edit --system

Global User level

Specific personally to you, the user.

• to view: git config --list --global
• to set: git config --global user.name xyz
• to edit global config file: git config --edit --global

Repository level

Specific to that single repository.

• to view: git config --list --local
• to set: git config [--local] core.ignorecase true
• to edit repository config file: git config --edit [--local]

Set repo-specific (non-global) config settings:

git config user.name "Alex Sokolsky"
git config user.email "asokolsky@gmail.com"
git config core.sshCommand "ssh -i ~/.ssh/private_key"

Make sure your private identity is available:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/private_key

Then

git remote add origin git@github.com:asokolsky/repo.git
git push --set-upstream origin master

View All Settings

Show system, global, and (if inside a repository) local configs:

git config --list

To also show the origin file of each config item:

git config --list --show-origin

To get e.g. user.name:

git config user.name

You may also specify options --system, --global, --local to read that value at a particular level.

Best Practices - Global Config

Followed Customizing Git Configuration.

git config --global user.name "Alex Sokolsky"
git config --global user.email "asokolsky@gmail.com"
git config --global core.editor /usr/bin/emacs
git config --global core.excludesfile ~/.gitignore_global
git config --global core.pager ''
git config --global push.default current

where ~/.gitignore_global:

*~
.*.swp
.DS_Store