Use case #1

You want to create a new, empty repository in order to track your work.

(1) Create a repository

1. Create a new BARE repository:

    cd /path/to/repo
    git init --bare myreponame.git
   

   Note: Add the --shared option to the init command if you eventually want the code to be shared with others in your group.

2. (If you want others to be able to use the repository) Ensure the repository permissions are correct:

   cd /path/to/repo
   chmod -R g+rw myreponame.git
   

(2) Use the repository as normal

Clone the repository into a working directory:

cd /path/to/working/dir
git clone [myusername@biowulf.nih.gov:]/path/to/repo/myreponame

Use [myusername@biowulf.nih.gov:] in the clone command if the repository you just created is on a remote machine such as Biowulf.

Now changes can be pushed/pulled to/from the new repository.

Use case #2

You have an unversioned tree of code and want to make a repository out of it in order to track future changes, whether by you only (Section 2a) or by both you and others (Section 2b).

(1) Create a repository directly in the code tree

cd /path/to/code/tree
git init [--shared]
git add .
git commit -m "My commit message"

Add the --shared option to the init command if you eventually want the code to be shared with others in your group (Section 2b).

Note: Following ONLY this step will mean the code can’t be cloned from elsewhere (it can only be committed to).

(2a) Create a repository elsewhere in order for the code to be cloned/pushed/pulled BY YOU ONLY

1. Follow the steps in Section 1 (without the --shared option to init).

2. Clone that repository into a new BARE repository:

    cd /path/to/repo
    git clone --bare /path/to/code/tree myreponame.git
   

(2b) Create a repository elsewhere in order for the code to be cloned/pushed/pulled BY BOTH YOU AND OTHERS

1. Follow the steps in Section 1 (with the --shared option to init).

2. Create a new BARE repository:

    cd /path/to/repo
    git init --bare --shared myreponame.git
   

3. Attach and push the code tree to the new repository:

    cd /path/to/code/tree
    git remote add origin /path/to/repo/myreponame
    git push --set-upstream origin master
   

4. Ensure the repository permissions are correct:

   cd /path/to/repo
   chmod -R g+rw myreponame.git
   

(3) Use the repository as normal

Clone the repository into a working directory:

cd /path/to/working/dir
git clone [myusername@biowulf.nih.gov:]/path/to/repo/myreponame

Use [myusername@biowulf.nih.gov:] in the clone command if the repository you just created is on a remote machine such as Biowulf.

Now changes can be pushed/pulled to/from the new repository.