Git default configuration is good but it can be personalized to improve your workflow efficiency.
Here are some good lines to put in your ~/.gitconfig:
# The basics, who you commit as:
[user]
name = John Doe
email = [email protected]
# Your Github username
[github]
user = githubusername
# Some aliases to save 1000s keystrokes each year:
[alias]
log = log --color
co = checkout
br = branch
ci = commit
st = status
# Long but worth it, gives you output like:
# * 4be77ea Add issue 42. 4 weeks ago by Julien
lg = log --graph --pretty=format:'%Cred%h%Creset %C(yellow)%d%Creset %s %Cgreen%ar%Creset by %C(yellow)%an%Creset' --abbrev-commit
# Convenient to see diff in minified files
dw = diff --color-words
# Add colors
[color]
ui = true
diff = auto
# Avoid messy merge commits with autorebase
[branch]
autosetuprebase = always
# Push the current branch by default
[push]
default = current
# Guess what you really meant
[help]
autocorrect = 1
# Tell git you have a global .gitignore
[core]
excludesfile = ~/.gitignore
# Remove usage hints
[advice]
statusHints = false
# Tell where are the diff from,
# instead of using a and b notation
[diff]
mnemonicprefix = true