Complete GitHub Desktop Guide

Name: Complete GitHub Desktop Guide
Rating: 4.5 (191 reviews)

Master GitHub Desktop: Learn Git, Branching, Merging, and Conflict Resolution with Real Projects and End-to-End Workflow

Created byLearning From Experience, Ayan Dutta

Last updated 11/2025

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

How to use GitHub Desktop in real life projects
Master the techniques to leverage the Git related features available GitHub Desktop
Collaborate Effectively on Projects
Implement Version Control Best Practices

Course content

9 sections • 57 lectures • 4h 37m total length

Course Overview2:51
What is GitHub Desktop and Why use it ?2:45
IMPORTANT : Tips to Improve Your Course Taking Experience0:43
Important : Code Repositories used in the course0:45
Presentation Slides Used in the Course (PDF Version)0:19
Join Our Online Community (Slack)0:09

Create Repository, Commit and Push using GitHub Desktop9:31
Clone a Repository and Push Changes with GitHub Desktop6:40
Learn how to clone a remote GitHub repository to a local workspace, edit code in an external editor, commit locally, and push changes back to the remote using GitHub Desktop.
New Repository vs Add Local Repository - Which One Should You Use?8:42
Learn when to use “New Repository” vs “Add Local Repository” in GitHub Desktop — explained with practical examples and a hands-on demo.
Where Did My GitHub Desktop Welcome Screen Go?9:00
In this lesson, we address a common confusion many beginners face with GitHub Desktop:
"Where did the welcome screen go after I created or opened a repo?"
You’ll learn:
Why the welcome screen disappears after opening a repository
How to switch between local repositories using the top-left dropdown
How to access all your remote GitHub.com repositories using the Clone Repository option
Bonus tip on treating the Clone Repository window as your new "home screen"
This video will help you confidently navigate GitHub Desktop and manage multiple projects with ease.
Syncing your branch with GitHub Repository using Fetch and Pull5:35
Cloning Repositories via SSH Key in GitHub Desktop4:46
Assignment: Create Repository, Commit, and Push using GitHub Desktop0:11
Assignment: Clone a Repository and Push Changes with GitHub Desktop0:14
Assignment : Syncing Branch with GitHub Repository using Fetch0:15

Ignoring Files with GitHub Desktop9:19
Learn three ways to ignore files in GitHub Desktop, edit the gitignore via repository settings or any editor, and apply them in two common project scenarios.
Reordering commits in GitHub Desktop5:21
Fix a Commit Mistake by Amending a Commit4:28
Undo and Reset Commit using GitHub Desktop3:54
Revert a Commit4:01
Revert commits in GitHub Desktop by creating a new commit that undoes targeted changes while preserving history. Revert vs reset: revert newest to oldest to minimize conflicts.
Assignment : Ignoring Files with GitHub Desktop0:18
Assignment : Undo and Reset Commit using GitHub Desktop0:15

Branching with GitHub Desktop17:57
Merging Branches with GitHub Desktop12:10
Master merging workflows in GitHub Desktop by combining changes from feature branches into long-running branches like main or develop, using fast forward merge and three way merge with merge commits.
GitHub Compare & Pull Requests Explained8:10
Explore how GitHub's compare and pull request lets you compare two branches, review changes with green additions and red deletions, add a description and reviewer, and merge after approval.
Cherry-picking a commit in GitHub Desktop6:05
Squashing and Merging Commits to another branch4:34
Rebasing Branches9:15
Merge vs Rebase7:29
Learn when to use merge or rebase to incorporate changes between main and feature branches, including fast-forward and three-way merges, and why rebasing shared branches can disrupt commit history.
Stashing Changes with GitHub Desktop3:06
Using Pull Requests via GitHub Desktop7:45
Assignment : Merging Branches with GitHub Desktop0:13
Assignment : Squashing and Merging Commits to Another Branch0:17
Assignment : Rebasing Branches0:17

What exactly we would be doing ?1:03
⚠️ Crucial: Use JDK 8 for Backend Setup (Read Before Proceeding!)0:18
Java Development Environment Setup for Backend Service8:34
How to Switch Between New and Classic UI in IntelliJ IDEA2:01
React JS Development Environment Setup for Frontend UI6:53
Install Node.js and npm, then install VS Code and create a React app with npx. Resolve npm path issues, run the sample, and verify changes by editing app.js.
Sample Fullstack Application Overview4:24
Explore a sample fullstack application with a React frontend and a Spring Boot backend, where the frontend consumes REST APIs exposed by the backend and uses an in-memory H2 database.
Day 1 - Architect Creates Project Repo with Branches and Adds Team Members5:56
Day 2 - Architect Develops Initial Version of UI and Backend9:19
Day 3 - Developer1 Backend Logging Feature9:34
Day 4 - Developer 1 and Developer 2 Working on a shared branch15:56
Two developers collaborate on a validation branch, handling backend validation and frontend work, push changes, resolve conflicts, merge via pull requests into development, and tag version 1.0 after architect review.

Requirements

Basic Knowledge of Git: While not mandatory, having some basic knowledge of Git commands or Git's purpose can be beneficial for understanding the course content more deeply

Description

Unlock the power of GitHub Desktop and streamline your Git and GitHub workflow with this comprehensive, hands-on course! Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your version control skills, this course is designed to provide you with the essential knowledge and practical experience needed to manage your code repositories efficiently.

What You Will Learn:

GitHub Desktop Installation and Setup: Step-by-step instructions on installing and configuring GitHub Desktop on your system.
Customizing GitHub Desktop: Tailor the application to your workflow preferences.
Core Git and GitHub Concepts: Understand the fundamentals of Git, GitHub, and version control.
Cloning Repositories: Learn to clone repositories using both HTTPS and SSH protocols.
Commit Management: Master the art of committing code, ignoring files, reordering commits, and amending mistakes.
Branching and Merging: Dive into advanced Git concepts like branching, merging, rebase, squash, and stashing.
Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts during merges, rebases, and pull requests like a pro.
Real-Life Project Simulation: Apply your skills in a real-world project scenario, working in a team environment, handling multiple branches, synchronizing code, and resolving conflicts.

Why Enroll?

Hands-On Learning: This course provides practical examples and real-life scenarios to reinforce your learning.
Industry-Relevant Skills: Gain the skills you need to manage code repositories in a professional environment.
Comprehensive Coverage: From basic Git commands to advanced GitHub Desktop features, this course covers it all.

Who Should Enroll?

Software Developers and Engineers looking to enhance their Git and GitHub skills.
Students and beginners wanting to understand version control systems.
Professionals seeking to improve their code management efficiency in team environments.

Who this course is for:

Beginner Developers and Programmers: Those new to coding or version control will find this course an ideal starting point
Experienced Developers New to GitHub Desktop: If you are familiar with Git and other version control tools but new to GitHub Desktop, this course will help you quickly get up to speed with its features and functionalities
Students and Hobbyists: Individuals working on personal projects or academic assignments

Complete GitHub Desktop Guide

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction and Getting Started6 lectures • 8min

Environment Setup5 lectures • 21min

The Basic Flow9 lectures • 45min

Managing Commits with GitHub Desktop7 lectures • 28min

Branching and Merging12 lectures • 1hr 17min

Resolving Conflicts4 lectures • 19min

Miscellaneous2 lectures • 16min

Real Project Example: Using GitHub Desktop End to End10 lectures • 1hr 4min

Wrap Up2 lectures • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: