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title, shortTitle, intro, versions, redirect_from
| title | shortTitle | intro | versions | redirect_from | ||||||||||
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| About GitHub Desktop | About | {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} helps you work with projects hosted on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}. |
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About {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}
{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is a free, open source application that helps you to work with files hosted on {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} or other Git hosting services.
Benefits of {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}
{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is useful for beginning and advanced users. Benefits include:
- Get started easily. If you're new to Git and {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}, you may find it easier to use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} than to use Git on the command line. {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} has a graphical user interface that simplifies commands and helps you visualize changes.
- Find commands. Because {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} has a visual interface, you can easily access less-common Git commands, such as choosing which changed lines to include in a commit or adding a co-author to a commit, without needing to memorize or look up syntax.
- Follow best practices. {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} encourages best practices. For example, it helps you to create an accurate and easy-to-follow commit history so other collaborators on a project can easily review your work.
- Integrate with {% data variables.product.github %}. {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is specifically designed for use with {% data variables.product.github %}. For example, you can authenticate to {% data variables.product.github %} or {% data variables.product.prodname_enterprise %} quickly, without needing to use a separate credential manager. You can also check out a pull request to run checks without needing to open your browser.
{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} workflow
You can use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} alongside any tools you need to contribute to a project. For example, a typical workflow is:
- Use {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to download a {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} repository to your computer and create a new branch
- Use an editor such as {% data variables.product.prodname_vscode %} to make changes to the code
- Return to {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} to commit and push the changes to {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}
Getting started
{% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} is available for Windows and macOS. For information about installing and getting started with {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %}, see AUTOTITLE.
If you're interested in the open source {% data variables.product.prodname_desktop %} project, you can see the roadmap, contribute to the project, or open an issue to provide feedback in the desktop/desktop repository.