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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-10T16:08:55+00:00

I am still quite unsure how to use it, but I just downloaded Git

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I am still quite unsure how to use it, but I just downloaded Git and I was setting it up according to their web page. The section on password caching says if I don’t have to enter my password every time, I can use Github for Windows. I was confused so I found a question here asking “what is github anyway?” and the answers say it’s a website or it’s web hosting. So I clicked the Github for Windows link on the how-to page and next thing I know I’m downloading an .exe file.

  • If Github is a website, why do I need an .exe file?
  • Is the only benefit to not type in your password?
  • How does Github relate to Git Bash?
  • Are Git and Git Bash the same thing?

P.S. I have 2 computers, 1 is XP and the other Win7. The downloads I’m talking about were on the XP but I will also put it on the 7 if I can determine that I need it.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team
    • How does Github relate to Git Bash?
    • Are Git and Git Bash the same thing?

    The latter question first: Not exactly. Git is a collection of programs allowing you to track changes in source files (really any kind of non-binary file and some binary files). Git Bash is one of the ways to actually run Git on Windows. Since Git was written for Linux, it relies heavily on Unix-like functionality which isn’t present in Windows; that problem is solved by msysGit, a package containining Git and a Unix compatibility layer.

    Git Bash is the version of the Bash shell, provided as part of msysGit. If you’re familiar with the Windows command prompt, Bash is basically like a Unix/Linux equivalent. It opens a command-line window where you can type Git commands or other commands.

    The former question: GitHub for Windows is another, GUI-based Git client. I don’t have it myself to check, but from what I’ve found online it looks like GitHub for Windows includes msysGit also, and thus Git Bash. But you shouldn’t need to use Git Bash much (if at all) with GitHub for Windows.

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