4.4.2. Git repository and Python

4.4.2.1. Related Git tools

1. Install gitk and git-gui

   The graphical tools gitk and git-gui are part of a standard full Git installation. In a terminal from any directory, enter

   sudo apt install gitk git-gui
   

2. Install file comparison tool

   In a terminal from any directory, enter

   sudo apt install meld
   

Tip

To compare two files with Meld, select the two of them in the file manager, right click, and then select to open them with Meld.

4.4.2.2. Cloning the Git repository

1. Clone the existing git repository

   These instructions will clone the git repository into a well-known location in your home directory. If you choose a different directory, appropriately change the directory given in the rest of documentation. In a terminal from any directory, enter

   cd ~
   mkdir gitlab.cs.nuim.ie
   cd gitlab.cs.nuim.ie
   mkdir ctgames
   cd ctgames
   git clone git@gitlab.cs.nuim.ie:ctgames/ctgames.git
   cd ctgames
   git status
   

   The output from the last command should read something like “On branch master Your branch is up to date with ‘origin/master’. nothing to commit, working tree clean.”

2. View recent commits to the git repository

   This gives you an idea of the activity in the git repository. All team members code changes are visible. In the terminal, from any directory in the cloned git repository, enter

   gitk --all
   

4.4.2.3. Install Miniconda (a mini version of the Anaconda Python distribution)

1. Download Miniconda

   Press the key combination Ctrl-Alt-t to open a new terminal and enter (two of these lines are very long – make sure to scroll to the right to copy each line in full)

   mkdir -p ~/miniconda3
   cd ~/miniconda3
   wget https://repo.anaconda.com/miniconda/Miniconda3-py311_23.5.2-0-Linux-x86_64.sh -O miniconda.sh
   echo "634d76df5e489c44ade4085552b97bebc786d49245ed1a830022b0b406de5817  miniconda.sh" | shasum -a 256 --check
   

   You should get the response “miniconda.sh: OK”. If not, the file was not downloaded correctly.

2. Install Miniconda

   In the same terminal, enter (make sure to notice the dot at the end of the first line)

   bash miniconda.sh -b -u -p .
   rm -rf miniconda.sh
   

   Initialise Miniconda for the bash shell by entering, in the same terminal, the command

   bin/conda init bash
   

3. Test Miniconda

   After installation, close the terminal (by entering exit), reopen a new terminal (e.g. Ctrl-Alt-t), and test your installation by entering

   conda list
   

   You should see a list of packages installed, including two with names “conda” and “python”. Ensure Anaconda Python has been installed by default, by entering

   python
   

   If the first line is of the form “Python 3.11.4 (main, Jul 5 2023, 13:45:01) [GCC 11.2.0] on linux” then Miniconda was installed correctly. Press Ctrl-d to exit Python.