Problem 1: Can't install Git, try running Update; Can't run Update, please install Git

My CoffeeScript PeepCode screencast started off by telling me to install HomeBrew.

The HomeBrew installation is easy enough on a Mac, I literally just ran:

ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.github.com/mxcl/homebrew/go)"

and HomeBrew was installed properly on my machine.

However, the instructions then said that I should run "brew doctor" before doing anything else, as a way of ensuring that everything was up and running properly.  So, I run that command:

brew doctor

And it says:

You must: brew install git

So I do that:

brew install git

And it replies:

Failed to execute: make
Error: Homebrew doesn't know what compiler versions ship with your version
of Xcode (dunno). Please `brew update` and if that doesn't help, file
an issue with the output of `brew --config`:
  https://github.com/mxcl/homebrew/issues

Ok, so I run "brew update," and I get:

You must: brew install git

Error: Failure while executing: git init 

Hopefully, by now, you're picking up on my frustration.  I can't install Git until I run "brew update", and I can't run Update until I install Git.

So I go to the Git HomePage and download the GUI installer.  I run it, it says "Installation Successful!", but, when I try to run 'brew update' again, it still complains that I need to install Git.  I try running "which git" to see where Git was installed, but my Mac can't seem to find it.

Asking around the office led me to the solution:  the Git GUI installer installs Git to /usr/local/git/bin, instead of /usr/local/bin.  So, I added /usr/local/git/bin to my PATH, and everything worked wonderfully.

-----------------------

Update

Turns out you can bypass all of this mess by simply installing Xcode, which is free from the Apple AppStore.

When my HomeBrew told me:

Error: Homebrew doesn't know what compiler versions ship with your version
of Xcode (dunno). Please `brew update` and if that doesn't help, file

I assumed it meant "you have Xcode installed, but there's something wonky with the compiler version."  Turns out it could also mean "you don't have Xcode installed."

I installed XCode onto my machine, after which "brew install git" worked just fine.

I'll probably delete the "regular" version of Git so that it doesn't conflict with the Homebrew version.