Creating a repository with git init - Practice Exercises

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of git init in a new directory?

You run git init inside an empty folder. What message does Git show?

Git

git init

A fatal: Not a git repository (or any of the parent directories): .git

B Initialized empty Git repository in /path/to/directory/.git/

C Error: Repository already exists

D Nothing to commit, working tree clean

💡 Hint

Think about what Git says when it creates a new repository folder.

When you run git init in a new folder, Git creates a hidden .git folder and confirms with the message 'Initialized empty Git repository in ...'.

🧠 Conceptual

intermediate

What does git init actually do?

Choose the correct description of what git init does when run in a folder.

A Creates a new hidden .git directory to track changes in the folder

B Merges the current folder with another Git repository

C Deletes all files in the folder and starts fresh

D Uploads the folder contents to a remote Git server

💡 Hint

Think about what Git needs to track changes locally.

git init sets up a new Git repository by creating a hidden .git folder that stores all version control data.

❓ Troubleshoot

advanced

Why does git init fail with 'Permission denied'?

You try to run git init in a folder but get this error:
fatal: could not create work tree dir 'folder': Permission denied
What is the most likely cause?

A The folder is already a Git repository

B Git is not installed on your system

C You do not have write permission for the folder

D You forgot to run <code>git clone</code> first

💡 Hint

Think about what 'Permission denied' means in file systems.

The error means your user account cannot write or create files in the folder. You need proper permissions to initialize a Git repo.

🔀 Workflow

advanced

What is the correct sequence to create and start tracking files with Git?

You want to start a new project folder and track files with Git. Which sequence of commands is correct?

A cd project; mkdir project; git init; git commit -m 'first commit'; git add .

B git init; mkdir project; cd project; git add .; git commit -m 'first commit'

C mkdir project; git init; git add .; cd project; git commit -m 'first commit'

D mkdir project; cd project; git init; git add .; git commit -m 'first commit'

💡 Hint

You must create and enter the folder before initializing Git there.

You first create and enter the folder, then run git init inside it, add files, and commit.

✅ Best Practice

expert

Which practice is best when initializing a Git repository for a new project?

You start a new project and run git init. What should you do next to avoid committing unwanted files?

A Create a .gitignore file listing files and folders to exclude before adding files

B Immediately commit all files without filtering

C Run <code>git clone</code> to copy files from a remote repo

D Delete all hidden files before committing

💡 Hint

Think about how to prevent temporary or sensitive files from being tracked.

Creating a .gitignore file early helps exclude files like logs, build outputs, or secrets from being added accidentally.

Practice

1. What does the command git init do in a folder?

easy

A. It creates a new Git repository by adding a hidden .git folder.

B. It deletes all files in the folder.

C. It uploads the folder to a remote server.

D. It merges two branches automatically.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of git init

   The command git init starts a new Git repository in the current folder by creating a hidden .git directory.

2. Step 2: Identify what git init does not do

   It does not delete files, upload data, or merge branches automatically.

3. Final Answer:

   It creates a new Git repository by adding a hidden .git folder. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   git init creates .git folder = A [OK]

Hint: Remember: git init creates .git folder to start tracking [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking git init deletes files
• Confusing git init with git clone
• Assuming git init uploads files

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to initialize a Git repository in the current directory?

easy

A. git init

B. git start

C. git create

D. git new

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the Git command to start a repository

   The correct command to initialize a Git repository is git init.

2. Step 2: Verify other options

   Commands like git start, git create, and git new do not exist in Git.

3. Final Answer:

   git init -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Initialize repo command = git init = A [OK]

Hint: Use 'git init' exactly to start a repo [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Typing git start instead of git init
• Using git create or git new which are invalid
• Adding extra words after git init

3. After running git init in an empty folder, what will be the output of ls -a?

medium

A. . .. .gitignore

B. . ..

C. . .. .git .gitignore

D. . .. .git

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what git init creates

   Running git init creates a hidden .git folder inside the current directory.

2. Step 2: List all files including hidden ones

   The command ls -a shows all files including hidden ones like ., .., and .git. Since the folder is empty except for .git, only these appear.

3. Final Answer:

   . .. .git -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   git init creates .git folder only = B [OK]

Hint: ls -a shows .git folder after git init [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Expecting .gitignore to appear automatically
• Not including hidden files in listing
• Confusing .git with other files

4. You ran git init but the .git folder is missing. What is the most likely reason?

medium

A. You ran git init but your folder is already a Git repository.

B. You forgot to install Git on your system.

C. You ran git init inside a folder without write permission.

D. You ran git init with a typo like git initt.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check permissions for creating .git folder

   If the folder does not allow writing, git init cannot create the hidden .git directory.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   If Git was not installed, the command would fail with an error. A typo would cause a command not found error. If the folder was already a Git repo, .git would exist.

3. Final Answer:

   You ran git init inside a folder without write permission. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Missing .git usually means no write permission = D [OK]

Hint: Check folder write permission if .git missing after init [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Git is not installed without checking error
• Ignoring typos in command
• Thinking .git disappears if repo exists

5. You want to start tracking an existing project folder with Git. Which sequence of commands correctly initializes the repository and adds all files for the first commit?

hard

A. git init; git commit -m "Initial commit"; git add .

B. git init; git add .; git commit -m "Initial commit"

C. git clone; git add .; git commit -m "Initial commit"

D. git add .; git init; git commit -m "Initial commit"

Solution

1. Step 1: Initialize the Git repository

   Use git init to create the repository in the existing folder.

2. Step 2: Add all files to staging area

   Use git add . to stage all files for commit.

3. Step 3: Commit the staged files

   Use git commit -m "Initial commit" to save the snapshot.

4. Final Answer:

   git init; git add .; git commit -m "Initial commit" -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Init, add, then commit = C [OK]

Hint: Always init first, then add files, then commit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Running git commit before git add
• Using git clone instead of git init for existing folder
• Adding files before initializing repo