Easy Steps To Install GitHub Desktop on AlmaLinux 9 – OrcaCore

In this article, we will guide you through the process to Install GitHub Desktop on AlmaLinux 9. GitHub Desktop provides a user-friendly graphical interface for interacting with GitHub repositories, allowing you to create repositories, manage pull requests, and perform other Git operations with ease. Follow these steps from Orcacore to Install GitHub Desktop on AlmaLinux 9.

Before proceeding with the installation, ensure you have access to your AlmaLinux 9 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges. If you haven’t already configured this, refer to our guide on Initial Server Setup with AlmaLinux 9.

Let’s dive into the steps required to Install GitHub Desktop on AlmaLinux 9.

Step 1 – Add ShiftKey GPG Key on AlmaLinux 9

Since the official GitHub Desktop application is not directly available for Linux, we will use the GitHub Desktop – The Linux Fork by ShiftKey. First, update your system using the following command:

sudo dnf update -y

Next, add the ShiftKey GPG key to your system using the following command:

sudo rpm --import https://rpm.packages.shiftkey.dev/gpg.key

Step 2 – Add GitHub Desktop Repository on AlmaLinux 9

Now, add the ShiftKey GitHub Desktop repository to your AlmaLinux 9 system. This will allow you to install the application using the DNF package manager. Execute the following command:

sudo sh -c 'echo -e "[shiftkey-packages]nname=GitHub Desktopnbaseurl=https://rpm.packages.shiftkey.dev/rpm/nenabled=1ngpgcheck=1nrepo_gpgcheck=1ngpgkey=https://rpm.packages.shiftkey.dev/gpg.key" > /etc/yum.repos.d/shiftkey-packages.repo'

This command creates a new repository file named shiftkey-packages.repo in the /etc/yum.repos.d/ directory, which contains the necessary information for DNF to access the ShiftKey repository.

Step 3 – Command to Install GitHub Desktop on Linux RHEL 9

With the repository added, you can now install GitHub Desktop. Run the following commands to update the package lists and install the application:

# sudo dnf update -y
# sudo dnf install github-desktop -y

The first command updates the package lists, ensuring you have the latest information about available packages. The second command installs the github-desktop package from the ShiftKey repository.

Step 4 – How To Access GitHub Desktop App on Linux?

After the installation is complete, you can launch GitHub Desktop in a few ways. You can execute the following command in your terminal:

github-desktop

Alternatively, you can access the application through your desktop environment’s application menu. Click on the "Activities" link in the taskbar or press the Windows key on your keyboard and search for "GitHub".

Once GitHub Desktop is launched, you can log in with your GitHub.com or GitHub Enterprise account to manage your Git repositories directly from your AlmaLinux 9 system.

For more comprehensive information, refer to the official GitHub Desktop Documentation.

Step 5 – How To Update GitHub Desktop?

To keep your GitHub Desktop application up-to-date, run the following commands:

# sudo dnf update
# sudo dnf upgrade

These commands update the package lists and upgrade any outdated packages, including GitHub Desktop.

Step 6 – How To Uninstall or Remove GitHub Desktop?

If you no longer need GitHub Desktop, you can remove it from your system using the following command:

sudo dnf remove github-desktop

This command removes the github-desktop package and its associated files from your AlmaLinux 9 system.

Conclusion

You have now successfully learned how to Install GitHub Desktop on AlmaLinux 9 using the ShiftKey fork, enabling you to manage your Git repositories through a graphical interface. This approach is necessary because the official GitHub Desktop application does not offer direct support for Linux operating systems.

Alternative Solutions for Interacting with GitHub on AlmaLinux 9

While GitHub Desktop offers a convenient GUI, there are alternative methods for interacting with GitHub on AlmaLinux 9, which might be preferable for users who prefer command-line tools or require more automation.

1. Using the Command Line Interface (CLI) with Git

The most fundamental way to interact with GitHub is through the Git CLI. Git is a powerful version control system, and GitHub is built on top of it. This method requires a good understanding of Git commands but provides the most flexibility and control.

Explanation:

The Git CLI is pre-installed on many Linux distributions, or can be easily installed using DNF. It allows you to clone repositories, make commits, create branches, merge changes, and push updates to GitHub directly from your terminal. This is particularly useful for scripting and automation.

Installation (if not already installed):

sudo dnf install git -y

Configuration:

Configure your Git identity with your GitHub username and email:

git config --global user.name "Your GitHub Username"
git config --global user.email "your_email@example.com"

Example Workflow:

Clone a repository:

git clone https://github.com/username/repository.git
cd repository

Make changes:

Edit files within the repository using your preferred text editor.

Add and commit changes:

git add .
git commit -m "Your commit message"

Push changes to GitHub:

git push origin main  # or your branch name

2. Using a Git GUI Client (Other than GitHub Desktop)

If you prefer a GUI but are looking for alternatives to ShiftKey’s GitHub Desktop fork, several other Git GUI clients are available for Linux.

Explanation:

These GUI clients provide a visual interface for managing Git repositories, making it easier to stage changes, commit, branch, merge, and perform other Git operations. Some popular alternatives include GitKraken, SmartGit, and Sublime Merge (which includes Git integration).

Example: Installing and Using GitKraken

GitKraken is a cross-platform Git client that offers a visually appealing and feature-rich interface.

Download GitKraken:

Download the GitKraken .rpm package from the official GitKraken website (https://www.gitkraken.com/download).
Install GitKraken:
```
sudo dnf install /path/to/gitkraken.rpm
```
Replace /path/to/gitkraken.rpm with the actual path to the downloaded .rpm file.
Launch GitKraken:

Search for GitKraken in your application menu and launch it.
Configure and Use:

GitKraken will prompt you to log in with your GitHub account. Once logged in, you can clone repositories, create branches, make commits, and push changes with a visual interface.

These alternative solutions provide different ways to interact with GitHub on AlmaLinux 9, catering to different preferences and workflows. The Git CLI offers maximum flexibility and control, while alternative Git GUI clients provide visual interfaces for managing repositories.