Step 1 - Install Git

Ubuntu uses the apt package management system, which provides the command line utility apt-get and optional graphical interfaces such as Synaptic and Aptitude. We'll use apt-get to install packages, but if you're more comfortable with GUIs, those options are available. Open a terminal window on your local system and do the following:

• Enter the following command to install Git:

  sudo apt-get install git<br />
          
  

• Verify the installation was successful by typing which git at the command line.

  $which git
  /opt/local/bin/git<br />
          
  

• Configure your username using the following command:
  git config --global user.name "<em>FIRST_NAME</em> <em>LAST_NAME</em>"
• Configure your email address using the following command: git config --global user.email "MY_NAME@example.com"

Step 2 - Install Mercurial

Open a terminal window and do the following:

• Make sure the universe repository is uncommented in the /etc/apt/sources.list file.
  To view the file, you can enter cat /etc/apt/sources.list at the command line. If the universe repo is uncommented the file contains a section similar to the following (example based on Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick Meerkat):

  deb //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid universe
  deb-src //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid universe 
  deb //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates universe
  deb-src //archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-updates universe 
  deb //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-security universe
  deb-src //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid-security universe
          
  

  If the lines are still commented (have a # prefix), then edit the file and uncomment them.

• Make sure you have an updated package list by entering the following at the command line:
  

  sudo apt-get update
          
  

• Enter the following command to install Mercurial:
  

  sudo apt-get install mercurial
          
  

• Verify the installation was successful by typing which hg at the command line:
  

  $ which hg
  /usr/bin/hg
          
  

  
  Hg is the chemical symbol for Mercury and hg is the command for Mercurial.

• If you don't already have one, create a file named .hgrc in your ~ (home) directory.
  This file is the Mercurial global configuration file.
• Edit the ~/.hgrc file using your favorite editor.
• Specify a username value.
  When you are done, the contents of the .hgrc configuration file look something like this:
  

  [ui]
  # Name data to appear in commits
  username = Mary Anthony <manthony@atlassian.com>
          
  

• Save and close the file.