Enabling Portable Git in Node.js command prompt on Windows

GitHub for Windows doesn't put Git in the PATH by default.  If you'd like your Node.js command prompt to have the git command available by default, simply edit your nodevars.bat file.  By default, this is in C:\Program Files\nodejs\.  You will have to run your text editor in an administrative context for this to work.

Replace this line in your nodevars.bat file:
set PATH=%APPDATA%\npm;%~dp0;%PATH%

With these two lines:

for /F %%A in ('"dir /s /b /OD %userprofile%\appdata\local\github\portableGit_*"') do set gitPath=%%A\bin
set PATH=%APPDATA%\npm;%~dp0;%PATH%;%gitPath%

See this gist for an easier-to-copy version:

https://gist.github.com/nycdotnet/f7d7b8de0c55b7081cb0#file-new-code

That will set a variable called %gitPath% with the location of git.exe, and then append it at the end of your path in the Node.js command prompt.  Because of the /OD switch, it will use the version of Portable Git whose folder has the latest modified date.  If Portable Git is not found, you will get a harmless extra ; in the PATH.

From Zero to Pull Request with Git on Windows

I wrote a guide about using Git and GitHub for "Windows people".

This is the guide I wish was available when I got started with Git last year.

The guide takes you through everything you need to know to get started with Git and GitHub, and only requires a Windows PC where you have admin rights to complete.  You can probably get through the whole thing in an evening or two.

This guide is unique because:

• It is specifically for developers who use Windows
• It only describes how to contribute to an existing project
• It prioritizes the GitHub for Windows UI when the command-line is not required
• It is not embarrassed to give step-by-step directions or definitions of basic terms
• It prioritizes "the simple way for the common circumstance" over "every possible way for every possible circumstance"

Check out the guide here:

https://github.com/nycdotnet/FromZeroToPullRequestWindows/blob/master/FromZeroToPullRequestWindows.md

If you like it, please hit me up on Twitter and let me know: @nycdotnet