How to Upgrade Git to Version 2.41.0 on Ubuntu

When you’re ready to take advantage of new features and improvements in Git, upgrading to the latest version is essential. Here’s a streamlined guide for upgrading Git to version 2.41.0 on your Ubuntu system.

Why Upgrade to Git 2.41.0?

Upgrading to the latest version of Git, such as 2.41.0, comes with several advantages that enhance the functionality, performance, and security of your version control system.

Enhanced Performance: Faster operations and improved handling of large repositories.
New Features: Commit graph enhancements, advanced configuration options, and more.
Usability Improvements: Refined user experience and clearer error messages.
Security Strengthening: Patches for vulnerabilities to ensure repository security.
Interoperability and Compatibility: Updates to protocols and standards for better compatibility with other services and tools

For a detailed list of changes, refer to the Git 2.41.0 release notes.

Backup Your Data

Before proceeding, ensure that you backup your crucial Git repositories to prevent any potential data loss.

There are two methods to upgrade Git to version 2.41.0 on Ubuntu:

Method 1: Upgrading Using APT Package Manager

The APT package manager often has an updated list of software versions, but it may not always carry the newest release of Git. To get the latest version, we use a Personal Package Archive (PPA).

Adding the Git PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:git-core/ppa
sudo apt update

Installing the Latest Version of Git:

sudo apt install git

This installs the most recent version available from the PPA.

Method 2: Building from Source

If you prefer the bleeding-edge version or need configurations not offered by the PPA, building from source is the way to go.

Step 1: Install Build Dependencies

sudo apt update

sudo apt install build-essential libssl-dev gettext \
  autoconf zlib1g-dev ssh perl-doc asciidoc xmlto libghc-zlib-dev libexpat1-dev \
  libexpat1-dev gettext cmake gcc libz-dev libperl-dev libssl-dev tk tcl python3 curl \
  libghc-zlib-dev -y

Step 2: Remove Existing Git Installation (Optional)

sudo apt remove git

Step 3: Download Git Source Code

wget https://github.com/git/git/archive/v2.41.0.tar.gz

Step 4: Extract the Archive

tar -xf v2.41.0.tar.gz

Step 5: Compile and Install Git

cd git-2.41.0
make configure
./configure --prefix=/usr
make
sudo make install

Final Step: Verify the Installed Version

Finally, confirm that you’ve successfully upgraded to the new version:

git --version

You should see git version 2.41.0. Enjoy your updated Git!