How to Create a New Repository using GitHub Desktop

Edited 5 days ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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Before we dive deep into creating a new repository using GitHub Desktop, it is essential to understand what GitHub Desktop is. GitHub Desktop is a user-friendly application that provides users with a graphical interface to interact with GitHub repositories. This means you can perform tasks like making changes, pushing to a remote repository, pulling updates, and more without needing to go into the command line interface. This is especially beneficial for beginners or those who prefer a visual representation of their workflow.

Downloading and installing GitHub Desktop

Before you can create a repository with GitHub Desktop, you first need to make sure the software is installed on your machine. You can do it this way:

1. Go to the official GitHub Desktop website (desktop.github.com).
2. Look for the appropriate download link for your operating system, be it Windows or macOS.
3. Click on the link to download the installation file.
4. Once the download is complete, find the installer file in your Downloads folder.
5. Open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install GitHub Desktop on your computer.
6. When the installation is finished, launch GitHub Desktop.
7. Sign in using your GitHub account credentials. This step helps sync your GitHub repository with GitHub Desktop.

Now that you've installed GitHub Desktop and linked it to your GitHub account, you're ready to create a new repository.

Creating a new repository

A repository in GitHub serves as the central location where your projects' files are stored. Think of it as a project's folder that not only contains the source code but also tracks its history. Creating a repository in GitHub Desktop is straightforward. Follow the steps below:

1. Open GitHub Desktop. If prompted, make sure you're logged into your GitHub account.
2. Once the desktop app opens, find the menu at the top of the application. You will see options like File, Repository, among others. Click on File.
3. From the dropdown menu, select New Repository…. This action will open a new dialog where you can set options for your repository.
4. In the dialog that appears, you need to fill in the required details:
   • Name: Enter a suitable and unique name for your repository. The name should be clear and concise, conveying the purpose of the project.
   • Description: (Optional) Provide a brief description of your project. This helps other people viewing the repository on GitHub.com understand its purpose.
   • Local path: Choose a location on your computer where this repository will reside. You'll need to choose a directory that's memorable, so you can easily find your files later.
   • Initialize this repository with a README: Check this box if you want the README file to be created automatically. The README is an introductory document that often explains what the project is, how to set it up, and how to use it.
   • Additionally, you may have the option to add a .gitignore file or a license file. These are useful, but if you don't know what these are right now, don't worry. You can add them later.
5. After entering the details click on Create Repository button.

You've just created your first repository on GitHub Desktop. This repository exists locally on your machine. Next, you'll probably want to publish this repository to GitHub's servers or add existing code to it.

Publishing a new repository

Once you've created a new repository on your local machine, you'll need to publish it to GitHub if you want to collaborate or put your code in a remote location for others to access. Publishing means pushing your local repository to the cloud on GitHub's servers under your GitHub account.

1. Opening your newly created repository in GitHub Desktop, find the Publish Repository button, usually found at the top right of the application.
2. Select this option, and you'll be asked for additional information:
• Private/Public: Decide whether you want this repository to be publicly available or private. Public repositories are accessible to anyone, while private repositories can only be accessed by you and those you have granted permission to.
3. Review the details and click Publish Repository when satisfied.
4. GitHub Desktop will handle the rest for you, creating a new repository on your GitHub account and pushing the local files there.

At this point, your code is available on GitHub's website, and you can manage it from the website or continue using GitHub Desktop.

Basic Git terms and operations

It is useful to understand some git terms and operations that often come in handy when working with repositories:

• Commit: Commit means saving your changes to your project history. It's like creating a snapshot of your current project's state, so you can revisit it later.
• Branch: Think of a branch as a parallel version of your project. Git allows you to have multiple branches in the same repository to experiment or develop new features independent of the primary project.
• Merge: This is the process of applying changes from one branch to another. Typically, you merge a feature branch back into the main branch.
• Clone: Cloning a repository means making a copy of the repository from GitHub to your local machine.
• Pull: This operation fetches and integrates the changes from the remote repository to your local machine. It keeps your local repository updated with the remote changes.
• Push: Pushing is sending your commits from your local repository to a remote repository, and updating GitHub with your changes.

Practicing with GitHub Desktop

Let's put some of these terms and operations into practice using GitHub Desktop for better understanding. Consider a simple project scenario.

Example: Managing a simple todo list project

Imagine that you want to manage a simple todo list application using GitHub Desktop. To do this, you can follow these practical steps:

1. As described earlier, create a new repository named TodoListApp in GitHub Desktop.
2. Open your favorite text editor or integrated development environment (IDE).
3. Create a new file called todo.html and write the basic HTML code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Todo List</title>
</head>
<body>

<h1>My Todo List</h1>
<ul>
<li>Learn GitHub</li>
<li>Develop the project</li>
<li>Deploy the project</li>
</ul>

</body>
</html>

4. Save the file to the local path of the TodoListApp repository you created with GitHub Desktop.
5. Switch back to GitHub Desktop. You'll see that it automatically detects the new file in the local path of your repository, and lists it as an uncommitted change.
6. Write a commit message describing the changes, such as "Added basic structure for Todo List HTML."
7. Click Commit to main. Now, the changes have been committed to your local repository.
8. If you've already published this repository, you can push the commits to GitHub by clicking Push Origin in GitHub Desktop.
9. Your changes are now part of the official project repository, which is tracked and backed up on GitHub's servers.

Advanced Uses

After mastering the basic operations with GitHub Desktop, you will find it beneficial to explore more advanced features such as branching, merging, and collaborating with others on GitHub. For example, creating and managing branches can be important when working in teams as it allows multiple people to work on different features simultaneously without creating conflicts in the codebase.

GitHub Desktop simplifies Git's complex processes for the end user by providing a clean, intuitive interface. This way, as a user, you can focus more on your project objectives rather than the intricacies of the system. Whether you're a developer looking to manage your source control efficiently, a content writer tracking documents, or a student experimenting with projects, GitHub Desktop provides a powerful suite of tools to effectively manage your work. Now armed with this knowledge, you have all the necessary tools to create, manage, and update GitHub repositories through GitHub Desktop.

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