In this short article we will learn how to install Github Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS operating system.
Introduction
GitHub Desktop, developed by GitHub, Inc., is a powerful and user-friendly application designed to simplify version control for developers. Git, the distributed version control system, is an essential tool for tracking changes in source code during software development. While Git provides robust functionality, its command-line interface can be intimidating for some users. GitHub Desktop aims to bridge this gap by offering a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes version control more accessible to a broader audience.
Github Desktop Key Features
- Intuitive Interface. GitHub Desktop provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for both beginners and experienced developers to manage their repositories. The application abstracts away the complexities of Git commands, allowing users to perform common version control tasks with just a few clicks.
- Visual Differ. One of the standout features of GitHub Desktop is its visual differ, which allows users to compare changes between different versions of a file. This side-by-side view makes it easier to understand the modifications made to the code, helping developers make informed decisions during the review process.
- Branching and Merging. Branching is a fundamental aspect of Git, enabling developers to work on multiple features or bug fixes simultaneously without interfering with each other’s code. GitHub Desktop simplifies the process of creating, switching, and merging branches, making collaboration more efficient.
- Commit History. Understanding the project’s commit history is crucial for tracking changes and identifying when specific features or bug fixes were introduced. GitHub Desktop provides an interactive commit history graph that visualizes the branching and merging of code, offering a comprehensive overview of the project’s development timeline.
- GitHub Integration. As the name suggests, GitHub Desktop seamlessly integrates with GitHub repositories. Users can clone existing repositories, create new ones, and push changes directly to GitHub—all within the application. This integration facilitates collaboration and enables developers to leverage the full suite of GitHub’s features.
- Cross-Platform Support. GitHub Desktop is available for Windows and macOS, ensuring that developers using different operating systems can collaborate seamlessly. The consistent user experience across platforms simplifies onboarding and allows teams to work together effectively.
How To Install Github Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
In this section we will explain how to install Github Desktop on Linux Ubuntu 22.04 LTS operating system. We will install Github Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04 via .deb package. For this purpose we will do following steps :
- Update Ubuntu system
- Download and Install Github Desktop
- Launch Github Desktop
Step 1 : Update Ubuntu System
Before adding new package on the system, it is recommended to update the system repository. For this purpose we will submit following command line :
$ sudo apt update $ sudo apt upgrade
Step 2 : Download and Install Github Desktop
In this tutorial, we will use Github Desktop version 3.3. We just download it from Github.
$ sudo wget https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop/releases/download/release-3.3.3-linux2/GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb
Output :
ramansah@bckinfo:~$ sudo wget https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop/releases/download/release-3.3.3-linux2/GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb [sudo] password for ramansah: --2023-11-14 14:48:35-- https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop/releases/download/release-3.3.3-linux2/GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb Resolving github.com (github.com)... 20.205.243.166 Connecting to github.com (github.com)|20.205.243.166|:443... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found Location: https://objects.githubusercontent.com/github-production-release-asset-2e65be/93324270/d6e74c87-0578-48b9-8dab-9e141792c63c?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIWNJYAX4CSVEH53A%2F20231114%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20231114T074836Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Signature=907a48068c6252461d47590bf4e3d63f2e1e7e2622541e06cf90bed1b8652ab9&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&actor_id=0&key_id=0&repo_id=93324270&response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3DGitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb&response-content-type=application%2Foctet-stream [following] --2023-11-14 14:48:36-- https://objects.githubusercontent.com/github-production-release-asset-2e65be/93324270/d6e74c87-0578-48b9-8dab-9e141792c63c?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIWNJYAX4CSVEH53A%2F20231114%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20231114T074836Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-Signature=907a48068c6252461d47590bf4e3d63f2e1e7e2622541e06cf90bed1b8652ab9&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&actor_id=0&key_id=0&repo_id=93324270&response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3DGitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb&response-content-type=application%2Foctet-stream Resolving objects.githubusercontent.com (objects.githubusercontent.com)... 185.199.108.133, 185.199.111.133, 185.199.110.133, ... Connecting to objects.githubusercontent.com (objects.githubusercontent.com)|185.199.108.133|:443... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK Length: 92138360 (88M) [application/octet-stream] Saving to: ‘GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb’ GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64 100%[====================================>] 87,87M 2,82MB/s in 47s 2023-11-14 14:49:24 (1,89 MB/s) - ‘GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb’ saved [92138360/92138360]
amansah@bckinfo:~$ ls -ltr *.deb -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 92138360 Okt 9 01:10 GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb
We will have GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb file, then we will install it by submitting following command line :
$ sudo dpkg -i GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb
Output :
ramansah@bckinfo:~$ sudo dpkg -i GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb Selecting previously unselected package github-desktop. (Reading database ... 286787 files and directories currently installed.) Preparing to unpack GitHubDesktop-linux-amd64-3.3.3-linux2.deb ... Unpacking github-desktop (3.3.3-linux2) ... Setting up github-desktop (3.3.3-linux2) ... Processing triggers for mailcap (3.70+nmu1ubuntu1) ... Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1ubuntu3) ... Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.26-1ubuntu3) ... Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Step 3 : Launch Github Desktop
Until this step, we’ve successfully installed GitHub Desktop on our Ubuntu 22.04 system, we can launch it by submitting command line
$ github-desktop
We also, can find GitHub Desktop on our desktop by clicking “Activities” and selecting “Show Applications”. We will have the main menu as shown below :
After we have installed and launched GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04, we can configure it based on our preferences. GitHub Desktop provides several options to customize your Git workflow.
Conclusion
In this short tutorial we have learned how to install Github Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop operating system. GitHub Desktop serves as a gateway for developers to harness the power of Git without grappling with its command-line intricacies. With its intuitive interface and robust feature set, GitHub Desktop empowers both beginners and seasoned developers to streamline their version control workflows. By simplifying tasks such as branching, merging, and collaborating on GitHub repositories, this tool plays a crucial role in making version control accessible to a broader audience, contributing to more efficient and collaborative software development processes.
