sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/shiftkey-packages.gpg] https://apt.packages.shiftkey.dev/ubuntu/ any main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/shiftkey-packages.list'
GitHub Desktop is a popular, user-friendly interface that simplifies your Git and GitHub workflows. While GitHub officially supports Windows and macOS, the Linux community has created excellent, free ways to run GitHub Desktop on Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian itself.
This is the most direct way to get the latest stable release: DEV Community Getting started with GitHub Desktop
Open a terminal and run the following commands to add the shiftkey package feed: github desktop deb free
If running GitHub Desktop on WSL, you may need to install additional fonts for proper display:
Many Linux users try to install GitHub Desktop via Snap or Flatpak. Avoid these if possible. The community .deb offers better native file integration, smoother Git credential handling, and lower memory overhead.
Easily see exactly what changed in your code with color-coded side-by-side comparisons. Avoid these if possible
Easily view side-by-side or unified code changes before committing.
If you prefer a standalone installation without adding a continuous repository, download the .deb binary directly.
While many Linux purists swear by the terminal, GitHub Desktop offers several advantages: Easily view side-by-side or unified code changes before
Create and preview Pull Requests (PRs) directly within the application with visual guidance. Availability for Linux (.deb)
I can provide the exact terminal commands tailored to your environment. Share public link
github-desktop --no-sandbox
There are two ways to get the .deb package onto your system: the command line (recommended for updates) or manual download.