Git, SSH & Terminal Basics

This article covers how to set up a Git version control environment, configure SSH keys, and use the terminal on Ubuntu 26.04.

Install Git

Ubuntu 26.04’s default repository includes Git. Install it directly with apt:


sudo apt update
sudo apt install git -y

Verify the installation:


git --version

Configure Git User Information

Before using Git for the first time, set your username and email. This information is recorded in every commit:


git config --global user.name "Your Username"
git config --global user.email "your@email.com"

Recommended global settings:


# Set default branch name to main
git config --global init.defaultBranch main
 
# Set default editor
git config --global core.editor "vim"
 
# Enable colored output
git config --global color.ui auto
 
# View all settings
git config --global --list

Generate SSH Keys

SSH keys are used to securely connect to GitHub, GitLab, and other remote repositories without entering a password each time.

Generate an Ed25519 Key (Recommended)


ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your@email.com"

Follow the prompts. The default save path is ~/.ssh/id_ed25519. Setting a passphrase is recommended for enhanced security.

Start the SSH Agent and Add Your Key


eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Copy the Public Key


cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

Copy the output and add it to GitHub (Settings > SSH and GPG keys) or your preferred platform.

Test the Connection


ssh -T git@github.com

If configured correctly, you’ll see a welcome message.

Managing Multiple SSH Keys

If you have multiple Git accounts (e.g., work and personal), manage them through the SSH config file:


vim ~/.ssh/config

Add the following:


# Personal GitHub
Host github.com
    HostName github.com
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_personal

# Work GitLab
Host gitlab.company.com
    HostName gitlab.company.com
    User git
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_ed25519_work

Terminal Basics: Bash

Ubuntu 26.04 uses Bash as the default shell. Here are common operations:

Common Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Function
`Ctrl + A`	Move to beginning of line
`Ctrl + E`	Move to end of line
`Ctrl + R`	Reverse search command history
`Ctrl + L`	Clear screen
`Ctrl + C`	Terminate current command
`Tab`	Auto-complete

Customize Bash Configuration

Edit ~/.bashrc to add aliases and custom settings:


# Common aliases
alias ll='ls -alF'
alias la='ls -A'
alias gs='git status'
alias gp='git push'
 
# Apply changes
source ~/.bashrc

Switch to Zsh

Zsh provides more powerful auto-completion and a plugin system:

Install Zsh


sudo apt install zsh -y

Set as Default Shell


chsh -s $(which zsh)

Log out and back in for the change to take effect.

Install Oh My Zsh

Oh My Zsh is a popular Zsh configuration framework:


sh -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/master/tools/install.sh)"

Recommended Plugins

Edit ~/.zshrc and modify the plugins list:


plugins=(git z sudo extract zsh-autosuggestions zsh-syntax-highlighting)

Install third-party plugins:


# Auto-suggestions
git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-autosuggestions ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-autosuggestions
 
# Syntax highlighting
git clone https://github.com/zsh-users/zsh-syntax-highlighting ${ZSH_CUSTOM:-~/.oh-my-zsh/custom}/plugins/zsh-syntax-highlighting

Other Terminal Emulator Recommendations

Ubuntu 26.04’s default terminal works well, but you can also try:


# Install Alacritty (GPU-accelerated terminal)
sudo snap install alacritty --classic
 
# Install Kitty
sudo apt install kitty -y
 
# Install Wezterm
flatpak install flathub org.wezfurlong.wezterm

Common Git Workflows


# Clone a repository
git clone git@github.com:username/repo.git
 
# Create and switch to a branch
git checkout -b feature/new-feature
 
# Add, commit, push
git add .
git commit -m "feat: add new feature"
git push origin feature/new-feature
 
# Merge a branch
git checkout main
git merge feature/new-feature

Once you’ve mastered Git, SSH, and terminal basics, you’ll be well-prepared for your development work.