# GitHub Desktop

> git client

**Wikidata**: [Q120976843](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q120976843)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/github-desktop

## Summary
GitHub Desktop is a free, open-source Git client that provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for version control. It allows users to interact with their Git repositories, including those on GitHub, without using the command line. The application is built on the Electron framework, enabling it to run on multiple operating systems.

## Key Facts
- **Instance Of**: Git GUI client, software
- **License**: MIT License
- **GUI Framework**: Electron
- **Source Code Repository**: `https://github.com/desktop/desktop`
- **Official Website**: `https://desktop.github.com/`
- **Version 2.0.0 Release Date**: June 5, 2019
- **Package Manager IDs**:
    - **Homebrew**: `github-desktop`
    - **Chocolatey**: `github-desktop`
    - **Flathub**: `io.github.shiftey.Desktop`

## FAQs
### Q: What is GitHub Desktop?
A: GitHub Desktop is a software application that provides a visual interface for the Git version control system. It simplifies common Git commands like committing, branching, and merging into a point-and-click experience, serving as an alternative to the command-line interface.

### Q: Is GitHub Desktop open-source?
A: Yes, GitHub Desktop is open-source software. Its source code is available on GitHub and it is distributed under the MIT License.

### Q: What technology is GitHub Desktop built on?
A: GitHub Desktop is built using the Electron framework, which allows for the development of cross-platform desktop applications using web technologies.

## Why It Matters
GitHub Desktop plays a significant role in making version control more accessible to a broader audience. By providing a graphical user interface (GUI), it lowers the barrier to entry for developers, designers, and writers who may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the command line. This visual approach simplifies complex Git workflows, such as managing branches, reviewing changes, and creating pull requests, which can reduce errors and increase productivity.

As an official application from GitHub, it offers a tightly integrated experience with the GitHub platform, streamlining collaboration. Its open-source nature and cross-platform availability via the Electron framework ensure a consistent and transparent tool for individuals and teams, regardless of their preferred operating system. It serves as a crucial bridge between the power of Git and the usability required by a diverse user base.

## Notable For
- **Official GitHub Client**: As the official desktop application from GitHub, it offers a streamlined and integrated experience for interacting with repositories hosted on the platform.
- **Cross-Platform Availability**: Built on the Electron framework, GitHub Desktop provides a consistent user experience across different operating systems.
- **Open-Source Project**: The application is fully open-source, with its source code publicly available under the permissive MIT License, allowing for community inspection and contribution.

## Body
### Overview and Purpose
GitHub Desktop is a software application classified as a Git GUI client. Its primary function is to provide a graphical interface for the Git version control system, allowing users to manage their repositories visually rather than through command-line instructions.

### Technical Specifications
- **License**: The software is distributed under the MIT License.
- **GUI Framework**: It is built using the Electron framework.
- **Source Code**: The complete source code is hosted at `https://github.com/desktop/desktop`. The associated GitHub username for the project is `desktop`.

### Distribution and Platforms
GitHub Desktop is available through its official website and various package managers and software repositories.
- **Official Website**: `https://desktop.github.com/`
- **Homebrew**: The formula name is `github-desktop`.
- **Chocolatey**: The community package ID is `github-desktop`.
- **Flathub**: The application ID is `io.github.shiftey.Desktop`.
- **Wine AppDB**: The application ID is `20055`.

### Version History (Selected)
The source material provides a detailed release history, including the following versions:
- **Version 1.5.0**: Released on November 13, 2018.
- **Version 1.6.0**: Released on January 17, 2019.
- **Version 2.0.0**: Released on June 5, 2019.

## References

1. [Release 1.5.0. 2018](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.5.0)
2. [Release 1.5.1. 2018](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.5.1)
3. [Release 1.6.0. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.0)
4. [Release 1.6.1. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.1)
5. [Release 1.6.2. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.2)
6. [Release 1.6.3. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.3)
7. [Release 1.6.4. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.4)
8. [Release 1.6.5. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.5)
9. [Release 1.6.6. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-1.6.6)
10. [Release 2.0.0. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.0.0)
11. [Release 2.0.1. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.0.1)
12. [Release 2.0.2. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.0.2)
13. [Release 2.0.3. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.0.3)
14. [Release 2.0.4. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.0.4)
15. [Release 2.1.0. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.1.0)
16. [Release 2.1.1. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.1.1)
17. [Release 2.1.2. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.1.2)
18. [Release 2.1.3. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.1.3)
19. [Release 2.2.0. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.2.0)
20. [Release 2.2.1. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.2.1)
21. [Release 2.2.2. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.2.2)
22. [Release 2.2.3. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.2.3)
23. [Release 2.2.4. 2019](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.2.4)
24. [Release 2.3.0. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.3.0)
25. [Release 2.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.3.1)
26. [Release 2.4.0. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.4.0)
27. [Release 2.4.1. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.4.1)
28. [Release 2.4.2. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.4.2)
29. [Release 2.4.3. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.4.3)
30. [Release 2.5.0. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.0)
31. [Release 2.5.1. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.1)
32. [Release 2.5.2. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.2)
33. [Release 2.5.3. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.3)
34. [Release 2.5.4. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.4)
35. [Release 2.5.5. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.5)
36. [Release 2.5.6. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.6)
37. [Release 2.5.7. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.5.7)
38. [Release 2.6.0. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.0)
39. [Release 2.6.1. 2020](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.1)
40. [Release 2.6.2. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.2)
41. [Release 2.6.3. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.3)
42. [Release 2.6.4. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.4)
43. [Release 2.6.5. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.5)
44. [Release 2.6.6. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.6.6)
45. [Release 2.7.0. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.7.0)
46. [Release 2.7.1. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.7.1)
47. [Release 2.7.2. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.7.2)
48. [Release 2.8.0. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.8.0)
49. [Release 2.8.1. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.8.1)
50. [Release 2.8.2. 2021](https://github.com/desktop/desktop/releases/tag/release-2.8.2)