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As a programming neophyte, I have recently installed Github Desktop on Windows 10. However, upon using npm, I have discovered that some packages, like bower, require the user to install Git for Windows.

My questions are: What is the difference between using Github for Desktop's installation of git and using Git for Windows? Would it be necessary to uninstall my current git and Github Desktop installation in order to to adjust my git command-line tools? If so, how should I proceed?

Metalurgia
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    So many contradicting opinions, why did they (git folks) have to make this so confusing - wasted enough time on this b.s. already !! Others https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32297340/why-was-git-installed-in-appdata-instead-of-program-files are saying one is dependent on the other and not to use the one suggested here – killjoy Jul 31 '18 at 10:57

5 Answers5

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Would it be necessary to uninstall my current git and Github Desktop installation in order to to adjust my git command-line tools?

No both are completely independent.

You can safely install git-for-windows in addition of GitHub Desktop: both will ignore each others.

Community
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VonC
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GitHub for Windows is a GUI interface for git. You can see a list of other GUI interfaces for git here. If you have Github for Windows working then you also have git for Windows installed.

Victor Uriarte
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  • do you mean to update `git for windows`? You can simply install it from [here](https://git-scm.com/downloads) to get the latest version. – Victor Uriarte Oct 30 '15 at 03:30
  • Sorry, to clarify: I installed git as "Use Git from Git Bash Only", and now I need "Use Git from from the Windows Command Prompt". I was wondering how to change it. – Metalurgia Oct 30 '15 at 03:39
  • I think the easiest way would be to simply reinstall. Atleast that's how i've done it in the past. – Victor Uriarte Oct 30 '15 at 03:47
  • Thanks. However, I think I've accidentally done two installs on my laptop. Should I uninstall my most recent install? – Metalurgia Oct 30 '15 at 04:29
  • In other words, how would I properly reinstall it? I'm not too computer-savvy. – Metalurgia Oct 30 '15 at 04:33
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Git for Windows includes "Git BASH" (uses MINGW64) and "Git GUI" (git-gui). There is folder context menu (windows shell integration) to access these. Includes the latest release of git. It is not set up to access GitHub by default, but you can clone an existing repo from a source location.

GitHub Desktop (formerly GitHub for Windows) is a more streamlined GUI. Uses PowerShell for git command line. The version of git it includes lags the latest release. "Before you set up GitHub Desktop, you must already have a GitHub or GitHub Enterprise account." You log in with your account, your GitHub repositories are automatically detected.

TT--
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A clarification: GitHub Desktop does have the PowerShell as the default shell, but you can go into Options -> Default Shell and change the shell to 'Git Bash'.

Zelgius
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Please refer to the hyperlink and it should be obvious: Github Desktop is just a GUI for Git Git-scm GUI options for download

In my current Github Desktop I can navigate to Tools and Options >> About Github Desktop >> Release Notes and it shows supported git utilities These are older versions than are available on Git.

Dwerg01
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