If you are a backend engineer who lives in vim and tmux , you don't need this. But if you are a designer learning Git, a data scientist who wants to avoid the terminal, or a frontend developer switching from macOS to Pop!_OS—
Flatpak is the most universal method and ensures you get the latest updates across most distros. You can find it on Flathub . flatpak install flathub io.github.shiftey.Desktop 2. Debian / Ubuntu / Linux Mint
: For those who prefer containerized or portable apps, it is available via Flatpak on Flathub and as an AppImage . Why Choose ShiftKey over CLI?
: The side-by-side diff view makes it much easier to review changes before committing. shiftkey github desktop linux
While GitHub does not officially provide a Linux version of its desktop client, a highly trusted community fork maintained by Brendan Forster (ShiftKey) bridges this gap. This version is widely considered the "unofficial official" client for Linux, offering the same interface and features as the Windows and macOS versions. GitHub +1 Installation Methods You can install the ShiftKey fork on virtually any distribution using several methods: 1. Debian & Ubuntu (APT Repository) This method ensures the app stays updated through your system's package manager. It's FOSS Add the GPG key: wget -qO - https://apt.packages.shiftkey.dev/gpg.key | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/shiftkey-packages.gpg > /dev/null Add the repository: 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' Install the app: sudo apt update && sudo apt install github-desktop Linux Mint 2. Flatpak (Cross-Distribution) Available on Flathub , this is the easiest "one-click" option for most users. Flathub Install command: flatpak install flathub io.github.shiftey.Desktop It's FOSS 3. Arch Linux (AUR) Arch users can find the package in the Arch User Repository (AUR) as
# Install it (Debian/Ubuntu) sudo dpkg -i github-desktop.deb
The result was .
GitHub now hosts its own repository for Linux packages. You can add the repo and install the package via the command line:
While GitHub (now owned by Microsoft) focused its GUI efforts on Windows and macOS, Shiftkey took the open-source codebase and wrestled it into compatibility with Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch, and other major Linux flavors.
The terminal is great for git add and git commit , but it is terrible for visualizing complex merge conflicts or image diffs. GitHub Desktop excels here, offering a side-by-side view of code changes that saves developers from accidentally deleting code during a merge. If you are a backend engineer who lives
: The project is maintained primarily by ShiftKey, highlighting the power of community contributions in the Linux ecosystem. Versatile Installation Methods
Brendan Forster, a developer known online as , decided to take matters into his own hands.
For Apt-based systems, you can add the official shiftkey package feed to receive automatic updates: Brendan Forster (@shiftkey) - GitHub flatpak install flathub io