<step>

<para>

You will need an installed version of <productname>Git</productname>, which you can

get from <ulink url="http://git-scm.com"></ulink>. Many systems already

get from <ulink url="https://git-scm.com"></ulink>. Many systems already

have a recent version of <application>Git</application> installed by default, or

available in their package distribution system.

</para>

To begin using the Git repository, make a clone of the official mirror:

<programlisting>

git clonegit://git.postgresql.org/git/postgresql.git

git clonehttps://git.postgresql.org/git/postgresql.git

</programlisting>

This will copy the full repository to your local machine, so it may take

</para>

<para>

The Git mirror can also be reached via the HTTP protocol, if for example

a firewall is blocking access to the Git protocol. Just change the URL

prefix to <literal>https</literal>, as in:

The Git mirror can also be reached via the Git protocol. Just change the URL

prefix to <literal>git</literal>, as in:

<programlisting>

git clonehttps://git.postgresql.org/git/postgresql.git

git clonegit://git.postgresql.org/git/postgresql.git

</programlisting>

The HTTP protocol is less efficient than the Git protocol, so it will be

slower to use.

</para>

</step>

<para>

<productname>Git</productname> can do a lot more things than just fetch the source. For

more information, consult the <productname>Git</productname> man pages, or see the

website at <ulink url="http://git-scm.com"></ulink>.

website at <ulink url="https://git-scm.com"></ulink>.

</para>

</sect1>