How to Set Up Geany with Git on Windows 11

In this guide I will walk you through installing Geany and setting it up to make git pull requests easily.

I will also show you how to make a pull request to my blog page.

1. Install Git

• Download from git-scm.com.
• Run installer: Select defaults, but enable “Git Bash Here” for context menus.
• Verify: Open Git Bash, run git --version.

2. Install Geany

• Download from geany.org (~15MB).
• install
• Launch Geany.

3. Configure SSH for Repos

• Launch Git Bash from the start menu (Press the Windows key and then type “Git Bash” then press enter."
• Generate key: In Git Bash, ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "email@example.com" (use passphrase for security).
• Add to GitHub: Copy ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub to GitHub Settings > SSH keys.
• To test SSH, run ssh -T git@github.com in Git Bash. This should show a greeting message.

4. Integrate Git in Geany

• Geany uses external commands for builds/runs; adapt for Git.
• Edit > Preferences > Tools: Set Terminal to C:\Program Files\Git\git-bash.exe --login -i (adjust path).
• For quick Git: Use Build menu or keybinds.
  • Build > Set Build Commands: Add custom for commit/push.
    • Example: Label “Git Commit”, Command git add . && git commit -m "%p" (in project dir).
    • Label “Git Push”, Command git push.
• Workflow: Edit files in Geany, switch to built-in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) for Git commands.

5. Make a Pull Request

• Clone: In Git Bash (from Geany terminal): run git clone git@github.com:jonahmondragon/jonahmondragon.xyz_blog.git.
• Branch: git checkout -b feature-branch.
• Edit in Geany, save.
• Stage/Commit: git add file.txt; git commit -m "Changes".
• Push: git push origin feature-branch.
• PR: Open browser to repo > Pull Requests > New > Select branch.

6. How to do make a Pull Request for a Private Repo

• Assume repo URL: ssh://user@server/path/to/repo.git.
• Clone: git clone ssh://user@server/path/to/repo.git.
• Same as above: Branch, edit in Geany, commit, push to branch.

Pure Git (bare repo) has no built-in PRs—it’s a hosting feature (GitHub/GitLab). Alternatives for collaboration:

• git request-pull: After push to branch, run git request-pull main ssh://user@server/path/to/repo.git feature-branch > Generates text summary. Email/Send to you (maintainer). You pull manually: git fetch origin feature-branch; git merge feature-branch.
• Self-host minimal forge: If needed, install Gitea (lightweight, suckless-friendly) on server—adds web PRs without bloat. Download binary, run as service. Config: ./gitea web.
• Efficient: Stick to CLI/email for minimalism; avoids web overhead unless multi-user.

Test setup: Clone a test repo, make/edit file in Geany, commit/push. Done.