How to Manage Branches in GitHub Desktop

Edited 1 week ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

GitHub DesktopBranchesManagementGitVersion ControlWorkflowWindowsMacProjectsCoding

GitHub Desktop is a powerful tool that allows developers to easily manage their repositories. One of its core functionalities is the ability to effectively manage branches. Branch management is fundamental to the workflow of many developers, as it allows multiple people to work simultaneously on different features or bug fixes without interfering with the main codebase. In this comprehensive guide, we will discuss how to manage branches using GitHub Desktop. We will explore various branch management tasks, including creating, deleting, merging, and checking out branches. By the end of this guide, you will be equipped with the knowledge you need to effectively manage branches in GitHub Desktop.

Understanding branches in Git

Before diving into GitHub Desktop specifically, it's important to understand what branches are in Git. A branch is essentially a pointer to a specific commit within a repository. By default, every Git repository has a main branch often named main or master. When you create a new branch, you create a new line of development that is separate from the branch you started from. This is particularly useful for working on new features or bug fixes without affecting the stable codebase on the main branch. Once you've finished working on a branch, you can merge it back into the main branch.

Setting up GitHub Desktop

Before you can start managing branches, you'll need to set up GitHub Desktop. If you haven't done so already, you can download it from the official GitHub Desktop website. After installing the application, you'll need to log into your GitHub account and clone a repository to your local machine. Once you have a repository on your local machine, you can start managing branches.

Creating a new branch

To create a new branch in GitHub Desktop, follow these steps:

1. Open GitHub Desktop and navigate to your cloned repository.
2. Click on the name of the current branch in the top bar. This will open a dropdown menu with all available branches.
3. In the dropdown menu you will see the option of New Branch. Click on it.
4. You will be asked to enter a name for your new branch. Choose a descriptive name that reflects the purpose of the branch, such as feature-login or bugfix-layout.
5. Click Create Branch to create your new branch.

After you create a branch, GitHub Desktop automatically checks it in, so you can start working on it immediately.

Checking out the branch

To switch between branches in GitHub Desktop, you'll use a process called checking out a branch. Here's how to do it:

1. Open GitHub Desktop and make sure you are in the desired repository.
2. On the top bar, click the branch indicator to open a dropdown menu of branches.
3. Select the branch you want to switch to by clicking on its name.

GitHub Desktop will automatically check out the selected branch, and you can start working on it. It's important to note that any unsaved changes won't be carried forward when switching branches, so make sure your work is committed or saved before you switch.

Merging of branches

Merging is the process of taking changes from one branch and applying them to another branch. This is a crucial step in incorporating your work into the main line of development. Here's how to merge branches using GitHub Desktop:

1. First, make sure you are on the branch you want to merge into, usually the main or master branch.
2. Click Branch in the main menu and select Merge into Current Branch.
3. This will open a list of branches. Select the branch you want to merge from.
4. GitHub Desktop will automatically attempt to merge the changes. If there are no conflicts, the merge will complete successfully.

If there are any conflicts, GitHub Desktop will notify you and provide tools to resolve the conflicts manually. After resolving the conflicts, you can commit the merge to finalize it.

Deleting branches

Once a branch is merged and is no longer needed, it's a good practice to delete it to keep your repository clean and organized. Here's how to delete a branch in GitHub Desktop:

1. Open GitHub Desktop and navigate to the repository that contains the branch you want to delete.
2. Click on the name of the current branch to open the list of branches.
3. Find the branch you want to delete. Right-click on it and select Delete from the context menu.
4. Confirm the deletion if prompted. Note that you cannot delete the branch you are currently checked out to. Switch to another branch if necessary.

Removing branches that are no longer in use helps reduce clutter and avoid confusion in the future.

Examples and best practices

Let's take a look at a practical example and some best practices when managing branches in GitHub Desktop:

Let's say you're working on a new feature for your application. You'd start by creating a new branch for the feature:

git checkout -b feature-user-auth

While implementing the feature, you may find a bug in the code. You can create a new branch for the bug fix:

git checkout -b bugfix-login-error

After you fix the bug, you may want to merge it into your feature branch:

git checkout feature-user-auth git merge bugfix-login-error

Finally, after completing the feature, merge it into main branch:

git checkout main git merge feature-user-auth

Here is a summary of best practices:

• Select clear and concise branch names that reflect the purpose of the branch.
• Accompany changes frequently with descriptive messages to document progress.
• Regularly merge changes from the main branch into your working branch to minimize conflicts.
• Always check for and resolve conflicts before completing the merge.
• Delete branches that are no longer needed to keep the repository clean.

Conclusion

Managing branches effectively is crucial for teams working collaboratively on software projects. GitHub Desktop provides an intuitive interface to do so, making it easier than ever to create, switch, merge, and delete branches. Understanding the process of branch management is invaluable for anyone involved in software development. With the guide above, you should be well-equipped to efficiently handle branches in GitHub Desktop and integrate it into your development workflow.

Remember, practice makes perfect. Over time, managing branches will become second nature to you, allowing you to focus on the most important thing - writing great code.

  Share This Article

If you find anything wrong with the article content, you can request an update