learn-co-curriculum / wsl2-env-git-github

Configuring Git, GitHub, and the Flatiron Student Portal on WSL2

Create a GitHub Account

To work on and get credit for the labs and lessons that you work on during the program, you will need to sign up for a GitHub account if you don’t already have one.

Action Item

1. Open the GitHub signup webpage at https://github.com/join
2. Fill out the form and create your account
3. Verify the email address connected to your GitHub account

Check Your Work

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mFZOVj8hago" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you were able to verify your email address, continue below.

Configure Git and GitHub

Git is the tool that we’ll use to download and upload the work we do in labs and lessons. To use Git without signing in every time, you can create a Secure Shell (SSH) key and associate that to your GitHub account. Lastly, you will want to run a few commands to make sure that when you use Git, you get the proper credit for your work. This step will ask you to do work both in your browser and your terminal.

Action Item

1. Open the "Ubuntu" application using the "Start" menu
2. Type git config --global color.ui true and press <Enter>
3. Type git config --global user.name + <Space> + your name and press <Enter>
4. Type git config --global user.email + <Space> + the email address you used to sign up to GitHub and press <Enter>
5. Type ssh-keygen and press <Enter>, for each prompt do not type anything, just continue to press <Enter>
6. Type cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub | clip.exe and press <Enter>. This will copy your SSH key to your clipboard
7. Open the GitHub New SSH key form (https://github.com/settings/ssh/new) (Note: you need to be logged in to GitHub to access that link.)
8. Type "My personal PC" in the "Title" input field
9. Paste what’s on your clipboard from step seven in the "Key" input field
10. Click "Add SSH Key"

Check Your Work

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZosWXqhYD00" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you see your new SSH key beneath the "SSH keys" heading, continue below.

Connect your GitHub Account to your Flatiron School Portal Account

Flatiron School has some helpful tools for you when working on your labs and lessons through GitHub. For those tools to work, you will need to connect your Flatiron School Portal account to your GitHub account.

Action Item

1. Open the Flatiron School Student Portal webpage (https://portal.flatironschool.com) (Note: you need to be logged in to Flatiron School Student Portal.)
2. Click on your user icon in the top right-hand corner.
3. (Note: To reduce the work from step 3 to 6 you can click Account Management then continue to the rest of the steps.)
4. Click on Base.
5. Again on the top right-hand corner click on the profile picture.
6. Click on Account Management.
7. Click on Create Account if you don't have one, or if you have a Github account then click on Connect Account.

Check Your Work

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nT0vrNNy1-A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you go back to the GitHub Account Management webpage (https://portal.flatironschool.com/account/github) and see a red "Disconnect" button, continue below.

Configure the learn-co gem on Ubuntu

The learn-co gem is the tool that we’ll be using to test and submit the labs and lessons that we’re working on. Before you can use it, you will need to connect your Flatiron School Portal account to the copy of the learn-co gem on your computer. This step will ask you to do work both in your browser and your terminal.

Action Item

1. Open the "Ubuntu" application using the "Start" menu
2. Type touch ~/.netrc && chmod 0600 ~/.netrc and press <Enter> (Note: you may be asked to enter your password.)
3. Type learn whoami and press <Enter> (Note: don’t type anything here yet.)
4. Go to your Public Profile Management webpage (https://portal.flatironschool.com/account/profile) in your browser (Note: if you’re not logged in, you will need to log in again.) (Note: To reduce the work from step 5 to 8 you can click Account Management then continue to the rest of the steps.)
5. On the top right-hand corner click on your profile picture (This will open a drop down menu).
6. Click on Base.
7. Again on the top right-hand corner click on the profile picture.
8. Click on Account Management.
9. Copy the string of characters under the "OAuth token" header
10. Paste the string of characters into the terminal and press <Enter>

Check Your Work

If you see a message with your name, username, and email, continue to the next lesson, Verify and Troubleshoot Your WSL2 Environment Setup.