Is GitHub Desktop Necessary If I Use VSCode for Git?

The main idea behind GitHub Desktop is user-friendliness. Some people find it easier to use than the command line, but if you’re comfortable with how you're currently doing things in VSCode, there’s no need to use it. It’s all about what works best for you!

I find GitHub Desktop easier for visualizing changes and handling merges, especially for those times when things get complicated. Sometimes when working on personal projects, it’s nice to have a separate tool to review diffs without the extra clutter of VSCode.

Some folks don’t use VSCode and feel awkward with the command line, so having a desktop app makes things more accessible. For example, in game development, it might be easier to navigate files and commits in a GUI rather than the command line, which can get messy with all the game assets.

GitHub Desktop is basically a graphical interface for Git that sits on top of the command line version. While VSCode has its own Git integration, GitHub Desktop offers additional features for managing your GitHub projects, like pull request management and continuous integration (CI) builds. So if you ever find the command line overwhelming or prefer a different workflow, it can be pretty handy.

If you’re only doing basic Git tasks, VSCode’s Git integration is probably enough. But as you progress, you’ll likely run into more complex scenarios where using either GitHub Desktop or the command line will be necessary. Each has its advantages depending on your needs.