This repository contains multiple different patches for github desktop, including the ability to pin repositories at the top of the repo list.
Context: desktop/desktop#8183, desktop/desktop#3410
Please check Notes for the tradeoffs made by using this method.
Requires Node.js, Git, and Yarn installed
node apply.jsThe script will:
- Check prerequisites
- Clone/setup the GitHub Desktop repository
- Let you select which features to enable
- Applies patches
- Guide you through the build process
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--test |
Test all patch combinations |
--debug |
Run in dev mode (yarn start) instead of building |
The following patches are available. They can be freely applied in any combination. All patches are experimental; those marked (experimental) even more.
| Patch | Description |
|---|---|
| pins | Pin repositories to the top of the list |
| archive | Archive repositories to a section at the bottom of the list |
| remove-recent | Remove the "Recent" repositories section |
| disable-auto-updates | Disable automatic updates, as updating would remove the patches |
| fix-auth-handler | Fix the authentication handler, as when building for prod without the GitHub Desktop app tokens (which are not public), the wrong OAuth callback is registered, making logging in more difficult |
| separate-instance | Run alongside official GitHub Desktop or run multiple patched versions simultaneously with multiple accounts. Create one version without and one with this patch and install them both. See Multiple Accounts |
| worktree (experimental) | Detect when a branch is checked out in another worktree and offer to add that worktree to GitHub Desktop |
| submodule-open | Double-click or right-click a submodule in changes list to open it in GitHub Desktop |
| untrack | Add Untrack and ignore option to file right-click-menu |
| addlocal-protocol | Add x-github-client://addlocal/ URL protocol to open local repos |
| hide-open-in-editor | Add setting to hide "Open in editor" from repository context menu |
| agent-integration | Add AI agent integration (Claude Code, Codex, or custom) with context menu |
To get pins to work, at least pins and fix-auth-handler are required. Without disable-auto-updates, the patched version will be overwritten on the next automatic update.
- These patches are for GitHub Desktop 3.5.2 (
release-3.5.2) - The resulting installer and executable will be unsigned
- Uses the Developer OAuth app for authentication. For enterprise installations or auth issues, install official GitHub Desktop first, authenticate, then run the patched installer to "update". See also official docs.
- If
separate-instanceis applied, a separate instance is installed, allowing multiple accounts on one machine
If you use two accounts, both will overwrite your global git config with whichever you install later. To fix this, keep the second account's repos in a dedicated directory and use a conditional git config:
Default ~/.gitconfig:
[user]
name = Your Name
email = your@email.com
[includeIf "gitdir:C:/path/to/work-repos/**"]
path = ~/.gitconfig-work~/.gitconfig-work:
[user]
name = Work Name
email = work@email.comThis is just one way to solve this issue.