In the past few days I started learning Git and GitHub.
As a result, I’ll also post about resources for Git so I can also refer to it whenever I have to instead of wondering where I keep my notes that are ever multiplying.
I’m starting to like Git, just as what they say when you slowly starting to learn the concept.
The black background of the command line window doesn’t bother me anymore.
Things are going smooth until I had an obstacle.
I cannot open Atom (a text editor) in the command line. I was doing fine with Notepad.
But I want to use Atom and make it work. I can’t ignore this challenge.
Open Atom in Git Bash (Windows 10)
If you are wondering how to install Git Bash in Windows, you can learn that from Jason Taylor’s course on Udemy, Command Line Essentials: Git Bash for Windows.
For now, I’ll jump right into how I spent much of my time figuring out why I cannot open Atom in the command line.
Let’s get started.
1. Download Atom for Windows. Install Atom.
2. Open the Windows Explorer.
3. Right click This PC, choose Properties.
4. Click Advanced system settings on left side.
5. In the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables at the bottom
6. Choose Path in the System Variables then click Edit.
7. Click New and add this %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\atom\app-1.12.6. Then click OK three times.
Note: I have one issue with this method. I may have to edit the Path whenever the atom version is updated. (The current version of Atom is app-1.12.6.)
Well, that’s another issue for another day.
You can use Notepad if you want to. I prefer Atom because I can navigate through the files and open two files side by side at the same time.
How about you did you experience the same issue? What text editor do you prefer?
mrmicrowaveoven says
April 27, 2017 at 11:27 amI’m confused by Step 7. You say `Add it at the end`. Do you mean create a new one and add it to the list, or add it to the end of an existing one?
Carolyn says
April 29, 2017 at 10:51 amHi mrmicrowaveoven,
It means to add a new variable. I updated the post and thanks for asking. Your question has helped to avoid confusion. Thanks!
Charles Johnson says
January 23, 2018 at 8:22 amThank you, it worked for me.
girsh says
May 13, 2018 at 3:42 pmThanks, it worked.
Natalie says
September 10, 2018 at 1:37 pmThank you! I can use the `atom` command in Git Bash now!
Preeti says
March 4, 2019 at 4:15 amThank you! worked for me.
Dario says
June 9, 2019 at 11:40 pmThank you Carolyn! To fix the version issue, just change the new Path variable from this:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\atom\app-1.12.6
to this:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\atom\app*
Tested successfully in Windows 10 with both Git Bash and PowerShell.