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A guide to using the GitKraken GUI.

Download and Install

  • Start from the GitKraken site
  • On Ubuntu: download and install the .deb
    • To change the repositories that appear when GitKraken opens, edit /home/.gitkraken/profiles//localRepoCache
  • On Windows: download and install the .exe

Turn an Existing Local Code Project into a Git Repository

  • Open GitKraken > Repository Management > Init > Local Only
    • Don’t give it a name > choose the folder that your code project is in > don’t touch any of the other stuff > Create repository
  • On GitHub or Bitbucket, create a new (empty) repository
    • Name it after the folder your Git repo is in
    • Do not include a README file (because it will automatically create a master branch and not show you the original src screen from where you need to check that it is using the SSH protocol)
    • Create repository
  • To add the remote, either:
    • Copy the URL without the /src bit (eg https://bitbucket.org/<username>/<repo_name>) or:
    • Copy the git@bitbucket.org:<username>/<repo_name>.git URL from the Bitbucket/Overview page, given that the project is SSH not HTTPS
  • Then, in GitKraken, click “Add Remote” (green “+” next to REMOTE in the left panel) > call it “origin” > paste the URL into the “Pull URL” space (the “Push URL” space will then get auto-filled) in the URL tab (not in the Bitbucket tab!) > Add remote
  • Do an initial push of the master branch to the remote
  • Create a “develop” branch, check it out and make changes in here from now on

Authenticate the Remote

  • File > Preferences > Authentication > Bitbucket.org > Generate SSH key > click the link to manage your Bitbucket SSH keys > add the new one (on your clipboard) with a custom name
  • The remote settings should have the SSH URL of the Bitbucket repo

Update

  • You’ll know that an update for GitKraken is available because a green message will appear in the bottom-left corner. Click this.
  • On Ubuntu:
    • Choose the .deb option to download the Debian package (“deb file”)
    • Choose where to save it and click “Save”
    • Install it from the terminal with sudo dpkg -i GitKraken-vx.y.z.deb (replace x, y and z with your downloaded file’s version numbers) after cd-ing into the correct folder
    • Alternatively, you can download the latest deb file from the GitKraken website (click here) and install it from the terminal with sudo dpkg -i gitkraken-amd64.deb when in the Downloads folder
    • Either way, you will then need to close and re-open GitKraken for the update to take effect

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