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GitHub Desktop
Experience Git without the struggle
Whether you’re new to Git or a seasoned user, GitHub Desktop simplifies your development workflow.
The ultimate GUI Git client for streamlining and enhancing your local code management process
Review code changes with precision
Easily compare versions to catch every detail and ensure your code update is flawless.
Read more about diff options
Drag and drop to cherry-pick, squash, or reorder commits
Copy commits from one branch to another, combine multiple commits in your branch history, or alter your commit history with an intuitive drag and drop functionality unique to GitHub Desktop.
Options for managing commits in GitHub Desktop
Stash your changes without committing them to a branch
Stash your changes without committing them to a branch
Maintain flexibility and seamless management of your codebase
Make adjustments to update messages, incorporate new changes, or revert to earlier states when needed. Easily make changes to your project’s history with simple adjustments and reversals.
GitHub Desktop is really one of the best 80/20 programs I have seen. It hides the details of git (which are irrelevant) and just lets you get on with your work.
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Last Updated :
11 Sep, 2024
GitHub Desktop is a user-friendly application that simplifies the process of using Git and GitHub on your computer. It provides a graphical interface to manage your repositories, track changes, and collaborate with others without needing to use the command line.
In this article, we will walk you through downloading, installing, and getting started with GitHub Desktop.
Table of Content
- What is GitHub Desktop?
- Downloading GitHub Desktop
- Installing GitHub Desktop
- Setting Up GitHub Desktop
- Using GitHub Desktop
- Advanced Features
- Customizing GitHub Desktop
- Github Desktop Download — FAQs
- Is GitHub Desktop Free?
- Can I Use GitHub Desktop with GitLab or Bitbucket?
- How Do I Update GitHub Desktop?
What is GitHub Desktop?
GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source application that makes it easier to work with Git and GitHub. It provides a visual interface to manage repositories, track changes, commit updates, and collaborate with other developers, all without needing to interact with Git’s command line interface.
GitHub Desktop is ideal for both beginners and experienced developers who prefer a graphical interface for version control tasks.
Key Features of GitHub Desktop
- Visual Interface: A user-friendly GUI that simplifies Git and GitHub workflows.
- Easy Repository Management: Clone, create, and manage repositories directly from the app.
- Branch Management: Create, switch, and merge branches with ease.
- Integrated Conflict Resolution: Tools for resolving merge conflicts directly within the application.
- Support for External Editors: Easily integrate with popular code editors like Visual Studio Code, Atom, and Sublime Text.
System Requirements
- Windows: Windows 10 (64-bit) or later.
- macOS: macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later.
- Internet Connection: Required for signing in and syncing with GitHub.
Downloading GitHub Desktop
Where to Download GitHub Desktop
You can download GitHub Desktop from the official GitHub website
Supported Platforms
GitHub Desktop is available for:
- Windows (Windows 10 or later)
- macOS (macOS 10.12 or later)
Installing GitHub Desktop
Installation on Windows
- Download the Installer: Visit the GitHub Desktop download page and click the «Download for Windows» button.
- Run the Installer: Open the downloaded .exc file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- Launch GitHub Desktop: After installation, launch GitHub Desktop from the Start menu or desktop shortcut.
Installation on macOS
- Download the Installer: Go to the GitHub Desktop download page and click «Download for macOS».
- Open the Installer: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the GitHub Desktop icon into your Applications folder.
- Launch GitHub Desktop: Open GitHub Desktop from the Applications folder or the Launchpad.
Setting Up GitHub Desktop
Signing In to GitHub
- Open GitHub Desktop: After installation, open GitHub Desktop.
- Sign In: Click «Sign in to GitHub.com» and enter your GitHub credentials. If you use GitHub Enterprise, you can sign in using «Enterprise Server».
- Authorize GitHub Desktop: Follow the prompts to authorize GitHub Desktop to access your GitHub account.
Configuring GitHub Desktop
- Set Up Git: During setup, you’ll configure Git with your username and email address. These settings are used for your commit messages.
- Choose Your Editor: Select your preferred code editor for making changes to your repositories.
Cloning a Repository
- Clone a Repository: Click «File» > «Clone Repository».
- Select Repository: Choose a repository from your GitHub account or enter the URL of a Git repository you want to clone.
- Set Local Path: Choose where to save the cloned repository on your local machine.
Using GitHub Desktop
Basic Workflow
GitHub Desktop simplifies the standard Git workflow:
- Clone or Create a Repository: Start with a local or remote repository.
- Make Changes: Edit files using your preferred editor.
- Commit Changes: Review your changes in GitHub Desktop, add a commit message, and commit the changes.
- Push to GitHub: Sync your changes with the remote repository on GitHub.
Committing Changes
- Stage Changes: Select the files you want to commit.
- Write a Commit Message: Add a concise, descriptive commit message.
- Commit: Click «Commit to main» (or the current branch) to save your changes.
Pushing Changes to GitHub
- Push to Origin: Click «Push origin» to upload your commits to GitHub.
- Sync Changes: Use «Fetch origin» to update your local copy with the latest changes from GitHub.
Creating and Switching Branches
- Create a Branch: Click «Branch» > «New Branch», name your branch, and start working on a new feature or fix.
- Switch Branches: Use the branch dropdown to switch between branches.
Advanced Features
Resolving Conflicts
- Conflict Detection: GitHub Desktop detects merge conflicts and highlights them for resolution.
- Resolve Conflicts: Use the built-in conflict resolution tools or your preferred editor to resolve conflicts, then commit the resolved changes.
Stashing Changes
- Stash Changes: Temporarily save your work without committing using «Branch» > «Stash Changes».
- Apply Stash: Retrieve your stashed changes when you’re ready to continue working.
Reverting Commits
- Undo a Commit: If you make a mistake, click «History», find the commit, and select «Revert this Commit» to undo the changes.
Customizing GitHub Desktop
Adjusting Preferences
- Access Preferences: Go to «File» > «Options» (Windows) or «GitHub Desktop» > «Preferences» (macOS).
- General Settings: Adjust settings like the default editor, Git settings, and repository behaviors.
Setting Up External Editors
- Choose an Editor: GitHub Desktop integrates with editors like Visual Studio Code, Atom, Sublime Text, and more.
- Open in Editor: Right-click on a file and select «Open in <Editor Name>» to edit directly.
Managing Repositories
- Add Local Repositories: Click «File» > «Add Local Repository» to add existing repositories to GitHub Desktop.
- Manage Repository List: Use the repository list to switch between projects easily.
GitHub Desktop is a program for convenient work with projects placed on the same service. It can be used to add any repositories directly to your hard drive, by dragging and dropping, or through the conductor. If the drag-and-drop folder is a Git repository, GitHub imports the entire history and connects it to the user’s profile. Another way to add repositories is to clone it from GitHub.com. It can be performed directly from the interface of the program, using the viewing of your personal profile or organization to which you belong. Also, cloning is performed by pressing the corresponding button «Clone in Windows» on the page GitHub.com.
The application is a full-featured version of msysGit — no additional installation is required. PowerShell is also supported. The program includes special utilities to make it easier to work with the command line. When cloning repositories, HTTPS protocol is used and credentials are cached, which eliminates the need for constant use of SSH keys each time a remote action is performed.
«GitHub Desktop simplifies the process of adding repositories and managing projects, reducing the need for command line operations and repetitive usage of SSH keys.»
— convenient work with repositories;
— command line support;
— easy-to-use interface;
— secure cloning of repositories.
Intuitive interface makes version control easy for beginners.
Seamlessly integrates with GitHub’s online platform.
Supports handling merge conflicts visually.
Lacks advanced functionality compared to command line.
No easy rollback option for mistakes.
Limited to GitHub-hosted repositories.
Ryan
Sun, Mar 10, 2024
GitHub Desktop is a specific application for the Open Source platform. It is associated with GitHub only. It has a nice Graphical User Interface (GUI).Users can check for changes directly on this software. It has history session which can show every git history in a button click. Users can attribute commits with collaborators easily. It can also be used to checkout branches with pull requests. Users can also check the CI status directly within it. It highlights all the syntax differents as well.
However, it only has official versions for the Windows and MacOS users.
👨💻️ USER REVIEWS AND COMMENTS 💬
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Cole
Program allows people to work on projects placed on same server. It’s nice that you just have to download this program and it makes it simple by clicking and dragging files. No other need of downloads keeps it simple and concise.It has special utilities so typing commands is quick and easy.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Jake
GitHub has made multitasking and coding a lot simpler and has increased the reliability and efficiency of my work. There have been times my PC has frozen (due for a new one), but GitHub had backed up the code I was working on. Additionally, working with my team has been very productive, making changes to 15 things but treated as one action are big pluses. It really simplifies a lot of the work. Love it.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Callum Wilham
GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source application that allows users to create and manage their Git repositories on their local computer. It provides an easy-to-use graphical interface to access the full set of Git commands and allows users to clone, create, and manage repositories, view changes made to files, and commit changes to a repository. GitHub Desktop also integrates with the GitHub website, allowing users to quickly share and collaborate on code.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Muhammad E.
GitHub Desktop is an easy to use program that offers an intuitive user interface. It allows me to quickly and easily manage my code repositories with a few clicks. The program also offers a wide range of features like the ability to commit, push and pull changes, create branches and view history. I appreciate the ability to quickly review changes in a file before committing them. The interface is also quite intuitive, allowing me to quickly start working. The only downside I’ve noticed is that it can take some time to load a repository when initially setting up. However, once it’s loaded it’s quite responsive. Overall, GitHub Desktop is a great tool for managing my projects.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Aaron A.
GitHub Desktop is an easy to use graphical interface for working with Git and GitHub. It provides a streamlined workflow for managing branches, committing changes and reviewing pull requests. I like the fact that it’s built on Electron, so it runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Plus, it integrates nicely with the command line, so you can use either one. Overall, it’s a great tool for managing your projects.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
George X******t
GitHub Desktop is a desktop client for GitHub, a web-based Git repository hosting service. It allows developers to manage their Git repositories locally with a user-friendly interface. The software enables users to clone repositories, create branches, commit changes, and merge code with ease. It also offers features like version control, code review, and collaboration tools that streamline the development process. Overall, it simplifies the Git workflow and makes it accessible to more users.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
John
GitHub Desktop is a seamless interface that simplifies the workflow for version control while giving access to the full power of Git. Its key feature is the ease with which it enables users to manage repositories without using the command line. This software also simplifies collaboration processes by facilitating the management of pull requests directly from the app.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Blake
It provides a clean, user-friendly interface for managing code repositories, but occasionally lags while loading larger projects.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Alexander
Eases version control, enhances team collaboration, user-friendly interface.
image/svg+xmlBotttsPablo Stanleyhttps://bottts.com/Florian Körner
Samuel
Intuitive, efficient version control interface.
Facilitates GitHub project management.
Drag and drop files to upload and manage code.
Easy way to collaborate and track code changes.
No more coding confusion with version control software.
- Windows
- Developer Tools
- GitHub Desktop 3.4.8
GitHub Desktop3.4.8
GitHub Desktop is a user-friendly application designed to simplify working with GitHub repositories on your local machine. It provides a seamless interface for managing code, allowing developers to clone repositories, create branches, and push updates with ease. The app is perfect for both beginners and experienced developers, offering a graphical alternative to the command line.
One of the key features of GitHub Desktop is its intuitive branch management. Users can quickly create, switch, or merge branches, making collaboration on projects more efficient. This functionality streamlines the process of working on multiple features or fixes simultaneously.
GitHub Desktop also integrates well with GitHub, providing users with notifications and updates about their repositories. This integration ensures that all changes made locally can be easily synced with the remote repository, helping teams stay aligned on development progress.
GitHub Desktop enhances the Git experience by making it more accessible and visually engaging, without sacrificing any of GitHub’s core functionality. It’s a powerful tool for anyone looking to improve their workflow when using GitHub for version control and collaboration.
Key Features:
- Simple GUI: Provides a user-friendly interface for managing GitHub repositories without using the command line.
- Branch Management: Easily create, switch, and merge branches with visual tools.
- Commit History: View and manage commit history, including commit summaries and diffs, to track changes.
- Pull Requests: Seamlessly review and create pull requests from within the app.
- GitHub Integration: Direct integration with GitHub for managing repositories, issues, and pull requests.
- Conflict Resolution: Visual interface for resolving merge conflicts during collaboration.
- Repository Cloning: Quickly clone repositories from GitHub to your local machine.
- Syntax Highlighting: View code with syntax highlighting in commit diffs.
- Git LFS Support: Supports Git Large File Storage for handling large files efficiently.
GitHub
Desktop
Program available in other languages
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User Reviews
User Rating
License:
Free
Requirements:
Windows 7 64/ Windows 8 64/ Windows 10 64/ Windows 11 64
Languages:
Multi-languages
Size:
159.75 MB
Publisher:
GitHub, Inc.
Updated:
Oct 23, 2024
Security Levels
To avoid any potential harm to your device and ensure the security of your data and privacy, our team checks every time a new installation file is uploaded to our servers or linked to a remote server and periodically reviews the file to confirm or update its status. Based on this checking, we set the following security levels for any downloadable files.
Clean
It is highly likely that this software program is clean.
We scanned files and URLs associated with this software program in more than 60 of the world’s leading antivirus services; no possible threats were found. And there is no third-party softwarebundled.
Warning
This program is advertising supported and may offer to install third-party programs that are not required. These may include a toolbar, changing your homepage, default search engine, or installing other party programs. These could be false positives, and our users are advised to be careful when installing and using this software.
Disabled
This software is no longer available for download. It is highly likely that this software program is malicious or has security issues or other reasons.
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