Software Review: GitHub Desktop
26th
May 2025, 23:57
Around 2020, GitHub sent me a notice that they were upping security standards for their users. I was using SourceTree at the time for Version Control, and I would have to implement a SSH key-pair in order for my existing setup to continue working. Installing and generating SSH just seemed more trouble than I was willing to go to, so I did took what I saw as the path of least resistance - I uninstalled SourceTree and installed GitHub Desktop.
Years have passed, and I've never looked back.
The layout is mainly column based, with very little wasted space. From afar it can look cluttered, but after some usage, I'm come to the conclusion that it is actually very optimized.
Using GitHub Desktop was easier than using the web interface, and definitely easier than using the CLI.
The History tab tracks commits and merges.
GitHub Desktop had enough of the common functionality in menu items and buttons, that I didn't have to search that hard for stuff I needed to do.
Branching is pretty intuitive as well. Functionality related to that are all here, in one place!
Needless to say, so are Merging and Pull Requests. I don't do those all that often, but on the rare occasion I did, it was carried off without a hitch.
Adding a new repository is intuitive (there's that word again) and just about idiot-proof. I also love that this application doesn't simply assume that I know shit just because I'm using it, and bothers to give me explanatory notes in the interface.
Installation is uncomplicated. I installed this for both Mac and Windows systems, and each time GitHub Desktop ran smooth as silk. It seems ridiculous to name this as a perk, but not when you have multiple laptops using multiple platforms.
Generally, GitHub Desktop doesn't try to be everything. It limits functionality to what's absolutely necessary for operations and nothing more.
You won't see certain dashboards as you would in the web version, but perhaps that's for the best. Still, it would have been nice to have those views available if we really wanted them.
Tags
See also
Years have passed, and I've never looked back.
The Premise
GitHub Desktop is exactly what it sounds like - https://github.com but in a desktop app instead of a web browser. Or, to look at it in another way, like doing version control on your machine without using the CLI (which can be problematic if you're typo-prone) or the web browser (which can be clunky).The Aesthetics
The color scheme is mostly mauve, black and white, with shades of red and green for text highlighting. In Dark Mode, the same colors are used but in different proportions. No complaints here.The layout is mainly column based, with very little wasted space. From afar it can look cluttered, but after some usage, I'm come to the conclusion that it is actually very optimized.
The Experience
I'm speaking as someone who knows how to push changes and the basic functions of Version Control, but doesn't key in the commands in the CLI enough to qualify as a savant. In this review, you will probably see me use the word "intuitive" a lot when describing the interface, because it is.Using GitHub Desktop was easier than using the web interface, and definitely easier than using the CLI.
The Interface
The application is comforting in its simplicity. We have a bar at the top for branching and repository switching, and the rest of the window is dedicated to committing and pushing changes. That's for the Changes tab.The History tab tracks commits and merges.
GitHub Desktop had enough of the common functionality in menu items and buttons, that I didn't have to search that hard for stuff I needed to do.
What I liked
Simple enough to use even for myself, and I wouldn't call myself an advanced user. Basic things like Commit, Push, Pull, Stash et al are readily available and very well-placed. I did not need to refer to any documentation to be able to find these features.Branching is pretty intuitive as well. Functionality related to that are all here, in one place!
Needless to say, so are Merging and Pull Requests. I don't do those all that often, but on the rare occasion I did, it was carried off without a hitch.
Adding a new repository is intuitive (there's that word again) and just about idiot-proof. I also love that this application doesn't simply assume that I know shit just because I'm using it, and bothers to give me explanatory notes in the interface.
Installation is uncomplicated. I installed this for both Mac and Windows systems, and each time GitHub Desktop ran smooth as silk. It seems ridiculous to name this as a perk, but not when you have multiple laptops using multiple platforms.
Generally, GitHub Desktop doesn't try to be everything. It limits functionality to what's absolutely necessary for operations and nothing more.
What I didn't
Logging in and out wasn't as simple as I thought it should be. The functionality is right here, when you select Settings from the main menu, but I feel like something as fundamental as logging in and out should be right there on every screen instead of being hidden.You won't see certain dashboards as you would in the web version, but perhaps that's for the best. Still, it would have been nice to have those views available if we really wanted them.
Conclusion
GitHub Desktop is one terrific piece of software if using the CLI is intimidating (or just depressing) to you. You don't even need to master every aspect of it to be able to start using it somewhat effectively. It's a neat little tool, available on multiple platforms and safe to use.My Rating
9 / 10Let's Pull for GitHub Desktop!
