Easy Steps To Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04

This guide intends to teach you to Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04. GitHub Desktop is an open-source application that lets you interact with GitHub via a graphic user interface (GUI) instead of relying on a command line or web browser. It incentivizes you and your team to work together while employing best practices with Git and GitHub.

GitHub Desktop enables developers to activate commands such as repository creation, pull requests, and commits with just a simple click. This extra convenience adds an extra element of flexibility to working with Git and collaborating with other developers.

Follow the guide steps below provided by the Orcacore team to add the GitHub desktop repository and Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04.

To complete this guide, log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. To do this, you can follow our guide on Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04.

Now follow the steps below to complete this guide.

1. Set up GitHub Desktop Client on Ubuntu 22.04

The GitHub Desktop client app is not available for Linux systems. You need to use GitHub Desktop – The Linux Fork by ShiftKey

First, update your local package index with the following command:

sudo apt update

Add ShiftKey GPG Key on Ubuntu

Now you need to add the ShiftKey GPG key to your server by using the following wget command:

wget -qO - https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/gpgkey | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/mwt-desktop.gpg > /dev/null

Add GitHub Desktop repository on Ubuntu

At this point, you can use the following command to add the GitHub desktop repo to your server:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/etc/apt/keyrings/mwt-desktop.gpg] https://mirror.mwt.me/shiftkey-desktop/deb/ any main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mwt-desktop.list'

GitHub Desktop Installation on Ubuntu 22.04

Run the system update and install the GitHub desktop with the commands below:

# sudo apt update
# sudo apt install github-desktop -y

2. Launch GitHub Desktop

At this point, you can easily launch your GitHub desktop app by using the following command:

github-desktop

Also, you can access your GitHub desktop by simply clicking on the Activities link of the Taskbar or pressing the Windows key on your keyboard to search GitHub.

At this point, you can log in with GitHub.com or GitHub Enterprise as per your account to manage Git repositories directly on your Ubuntu 22.04.

3. Update GitHub Desktop App

You can easily update your app by running the system update:

# sudo apt update
# sudo apt upgrade

4. Uninstall GitHub Desktop from Ubuntu 22.04

If you no longer want to use the GitHub Desktop app, you can use the following command to remove it from your server:

sudo apt-get remove github-desktop

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04.

Hope you enjoy this guide. You may also interested in these articles:

Install and Configure Cloudron on Ubuntu 22.04

Install and Use Docker Compose on Ubuntu 22.04

Alternative Solutions for Interacting with GitHub on Ubuntu 22.04

While the ShiftKey fork of GitHub Desktop offers a GUI-based solution, several alternative approaches can provide similar or even enhanced functionality for interacting with GitHub on Ubuntu 22.04. These alternatives cater to different user preferences and workflows, offering flexibility beyond a dedicated desktop application. Here, we’ll explore two distinct alternatives: using a Git GUI client and leveraging a terminal-based Git client.

1. Using a Git GUI Client (GitKraken)

GitKraken is a powerful, cross-platform Git GUI client that provides a visual interface for managing Git repositories. Unlike the ShiftKey fork, GitKraken is a separate application designed specifically for Git management and offers features beyond basic GitHub interaction. It supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and other Git hosting services.

Installation and Usage:

Download GitKraken: Visit the GitKraken website and download the appropriate Linux version.
Install GitKraken: After downloading, install GitKraken using your preferred method. For example, if you download a .deb package, you can use the following command:
```
sudo apt install ./gitkraken-amd64.deb # Replace with the actual filename
```
Launch GitKraken: After installation, launch GitKraken from your applications menu.
Authenticate with GitHub: GitKraken will prompt you to authenticate with your GitHub account. Follow the on-screen instructions to authorize GitKraken to access your repositories.

Benefits of using GitKraken:

Visual Interface: GitKraken provides a visually intuitive interface for managing branches, commits, and merges.
Cross-Platform: GitKraken is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring a consistent experience across different operating systems.
Advanced Features: GitKraken offers advanced features such as interactive rebase, merge conflict resolution, and Gitflow support.
Integration: GitKraken integrates with various Git hosting services, including GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.

Example Workflow:

After authenticating with GitHub, you can clone a repository, create a branch, make changes, commit them, and push the branch to GitHub all within GitKraken’s visual interface. The intuitive UI simplifies complex Git operations, making it easier to manage your repositories.

2. Leveraging a Terminal-Based Git Client (Git + `gh` CLI)

For users comfortable with the command line, using the standard git command in conjunction with the GitHub CLI (gh) offers a powerful and efficient way to interact with GitHub. This approach provides fine-grained control over Git operations and allows for scripting and automation.

Installation and Configuration:

Install Git: If Git is not already installed, install it using the following command:
```
sudo apt install git
```
Install GitHub CLI (gh): Install the GitHub CLI using the following commands:
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install gh
```
Authenticate with GitHub CLI: Authenticate the GitHub CLI using the gh auth login command. This will guide you through the authentication process, allowing the CLI to access your GitHub account.
```
gh auth login
```

Benefits of using Git + gh CLI:

Fine-Grained Control: The command line provides precise control over Git operations.
Scripting and Automation: The command line can be easily used in scripts for automating Git tasks.
Lightweight: The git and gh CLI tools are lightweight and require minimal resources.
Extensibility: The GitHub CLI can be extended with custom commands and scripts.

Example Workflow:

Here’s an example of a typical workflow using git and gh CLI:

Clone a repository:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-repository.git
cd your-repository

Create a branch:
```
git checkout -b new-feature
```

Make changes, commit, and push:

# Make your changes
git add .
git commit -m "Implement new feature"
git push origin new-feature

Create a pull request using gh:

gh pr create --title "Implement new feature" --body "Description of the new feature"

This alternative approach leverages the power of the command line to interact with Git and GitHub. The gh CLI simplifies tasks such as creating pull requests and managing issues directly from the terminal. This method allows for the most control, though there is a steeper learning curve than with a GUI.

In conclusion, while the ShiftKey fork offers a GUI for Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04, alternative solutions such as GitKraken or the combination of git and gh CLI provide different advantages and cater to diverse user preferences. Choosing the right approach depends on your comfort level with the command line, the desired level of control, and the specific features you require. These alternative methods still allow for Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04.

Each of these solutions provides a way to Install GitHub Desktop on Ubuntu 22.04.