Unable to create gitconfig file for user

Question

I have installed git as root on my Linux (debian) system before I had created my user. After I created the user I try to run the command (as the new user):

git config --global user.name "myusername" 

But I get the error:

error: could not lock config file /home/<username>/.gitconfig: Permission denied

When I type

git config --global --edit

It starts my editor with the path /home/<username>/.gitconfig. I think this is really weird. I have tried to create the .gitconfig file by creating it as sudo and then move the .gitconfig file from /root/.gitconfig to /home/<username>/.gitconfig and lastly chown it to my user, but that does not work either. Please help me..

---

EDIT: The problem had to do with user permissions on the home directory of the user. I just ran:

sudo chown username:username /home/username

And then it worked as usal.

Answer 1

Before you go borderline insane, just edit/insert the username by hand inside the .gitconfig? Open it up with the editor of your choice and go ahead:

gitconfig excerpt from me:

[user]
        name = myusername
        email = [email protected]
[color]
        branch = on
        diff = on
        interactive = on
        status = on

...

The user.name from the commandline is the [user] + name = combo in the config.
name is just indented with a tab.

Answer 2

Install git

vagrant@precise32:~$ sudo apt-get install git

....Set up your user

vagrant@precise32:/$ sudo useradd -m yourusername
vagrant@precise32:/$ sudo passwd yourusername
Enter new UNIX password: 
Retype new UNIX password: 
passwd: password updated successfully
vagrant@precise32:/$ su - yourusername
Password: 
$ ls
$ pwd
/home/yourusername

...Configure git

$ git config --global user.name "yourusername"
$ ls -a
.  ..  .bash_logout  .bashrc  .gitconfig  .profile
$ cat .gitconfig
[user]
    name = yourusername