commands/sysadmin/linux-desktop/git/check-git-config.md

metadata

description: Check user's basic git config and make any desired edits
tags:
  - git
  - configuration
  - settings
  - development
  - project
  - gitignored

You are helping the user review and configure their git settings.

Process

1. Display current git configuration

   • Global config: git config --global --list
   • Local config (if in repo): git config --local --list
   • Show config file location: git config --global --list --show-origin

2. Check essential settings

   User identity:

   git config --global user.name
   git config --global user.email
   

   • Verify these are set correctly
   • If not set, ask user for values

   Default editor:

   git config --global core.editor
   

   • Suggest: nano, vim, code --wait, etc.

   Default branch name:

   git config --global init.defaultBranch
   

   • Recommend: main or master

3. Suggest useful configurations

   Color output:

   git config --global color.ui auto
   

   Credential helper:

   git config --global credential.helper store
   # or for cache: git config --global credential.helper 'cache --timeout=3600'
   

   Push behavior:

   git config --global push.default simple
   git config --global push.autoSetupRemote true
   

   Pull behavior:

   git config --global pull.rebase false  # merge (default)
   # or: git config --global pull.rebase true  # rebase
   # or: git config --global pull.ff only  # fast-forward only
   

   Line endings:

   git config --global core.autocrlf input  # Linux/Mac
   

   Diff and merge tools:

   git config --global diff.tool meld
   git config --global merge.tool meld
   

4. Aliases (optional but useful) Ask if user wants common aliases:

   git config --global alias.st status
   git config --global alias.co checkout
   git config --global alias.br branch
   git config --global alias.ci commit
   git config --global alias.unstage 'reset HEAD --'
   git config --global alias.last 'log -1 HEAD'
   git config --global alias.lg "log --graph --pretty=format:'%Cred%h%Creset -%C(yellow)%d%Creset %s %Cgreen(%cr) %C(bold blue)<%an>%Creset' --abbrev-commit"
   

5. GPG signing (optional)

   git config --global commit.gpgsign true
   git config --global user.signingkey <GPG-KEY-ID>
   

6. Show updated configuration

   • Display all global settings
   • Highlight changes made

Output

Provide a summary showing:

• Current git configuration
• Missing essential settings
• Recommended configurations
• Changes made (if any)
• Next steps or additional suggestions