Appendix D: Windows Help

Using Git Bash on Windows¶

For this course, Windows users are encouraged to use Git Bash as their terminal. Git Bash provides a Unix-like shell environment, making it easier to run commands that are consistent with examples shown in lecture and documentation.

How to Open Git Bash¶

1. From the Start Menu

   • Search for Git Bash in the Windows search bar and click to open.
   • Git should already be installed on most Windows systems.

2. From File Explorer

   • Navigate to the folder you want.
   • Right-click inside the folder window.
   • Select Show more options → Open Git Bash here.

3. From VS Code

   • Open the terminal panel in VS Code.
   • Click the small arrow (⌄) next to the + button.
   • Select Git Bash (the default is usually PowerShell).

Why Git Bash?¶

• The command syntax matches the Unix shell used on macOS and Linux.
• It is widely recommended by computer science instructors and is already included with Git for Windows.