Using Git Integration

Prerequisites

• Git is installed on your computer.

  Note

  It is strongly recommended that you use version 1.6.0 or higher.

• The location of the Git executable file is correctly specified on the Git page of the Settings dialog box.
• Git integration is enabled for the current project root or directory.
• If you are going to use a remote repository, create a Git hosting account first. You can access the remote repository through the username/password and keyboard interactive authentication methods supported by the Git integration or through a pair of ssh keys.

  Tip

  1. ssh keys are generated outside IntelliJ IDEA. You can follow the instructions from http://inchoo.net/tools/how-to-generate-ssh-keys-for-git-authorization/ or look for other guidelines.
  2. Store the ssh keys in the home_directory\.ssh\ folder. The location of the home directory is defined through environmental variables:
     • HOME for Unix-like operating systems.
     • userprofile for the Microsoft Windows operating system.
  3. Make sure, the keys are stored in files with correct names:
     • id_rsa for the private key.
     • id_rsa.pub for the public key.
  4. IntelliJ IDEA supports the standard method of using multiple ssh keys, by means of creating .ssh/config file.

Git support

• When the Git integration with IntelliJ IDEA is enabled, the Git item appears on the VCS menu, and on the context menus of the Editor and Project views.
• The files in the folders under the Git control are highlighted according to their status. See File Status Highlights for file status highlighting conventions.
• Results of modifications show in the Changes tool window.
• When using the Git integration, it is helpful to open the Version Control tool window. Its Console tab displays the following data:
  • All the commands generated based on the settings you specify through the IntelliJ IDEA user interface.
  • Information messages concerning the results of executing generated Git commands.
  • Error messages.