GitHub Series #4 : Installing GitHub Desktop and Creating a Local Repository

GitHub Series #4: Installing GitHub Desktop and Creating a Local Repository

Let's install GitHub Desktop, a handy tool that simplifies repository management with just a few clicks.

1. Installing GitHub Desktop

Download from: https://desktop.github.com

Run the installer and complete the setup with default options. Once installed, sign in with your GitHub account.

Installing GitHub Desktop and Creating a Local Repository

2. Two Starting Points for Repository Setup

When using GitHub Desktop, your workflow will depend on where your project starts:

  • [A] You created a repository on GitHub web → Clone
  • [B] You started with a folder on your computer → New Repository

[A] Cloning a Repository from GitHub

  1. Create a repository on GitHub via the website.
  2. Open GitHub Desktop and go to File > Clone Repository.
  3. Select the repository and choose a local path.
  4. Click Clone to download it to your PC.

[B] Creating a New Repository on Local Drive

  1. Open GitHub Desktop and select File > New Repository.
  2. Set the repository name, folder path, and optionally a .gitignore file.
  3. Click Create Repository, then click Publish repository to upload it to GitHub.

3. Setting Up Visual Studio as External Editor

GitHub Desktop uses VS Code by default. To use Visual Studio instead, set the executable path manually:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\Community\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe

4. Disconnecting Git from Your Local Folder

If you want to disconnect a local folder from GitHub, just delete the hidden .git folder.

  • Enable hidden items in File Explorer via View > Hidden items.
  • Locate and delete the .git folder inside your project.

⚠️ Warning: Deleting this will remove all Git history from the folder.

Next Up

In the next post, we’ll cover how to commit your changes and push them to GitHub.

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