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GitKraken Client Documentation

Open, Clone, and Init

Whether you are a newborn or a wizened deep-ocean octopod, each user will need to open, clone, or initialize a repo in GitKraken Client.


Setup

The essential setup process includes:

  1. Installing GitKraken Client
  2. Creating an account and setting up your profile

Once this is complete, you are ready for your oceanic journey!


Projects in GitKraken Client

There are three ways to start a Git repository when working on a project:

  1. Open – Open a local Git repository already initialized and available locally.
  2. Clone – Clone a remote Git repository already initialized.
  3. Init – Create an empty Git repository or reinitialize an existing one.

Opening an existing project

GitKraken Client allows you to load your existing repositories and pick up where you left off. It’s also useful for visualizing past work done.

If you’re coming from a Git project you already have locally, navigate to File > Open Repo to get started immediately in GitKraken Client.


Cloning an existing project

If your project is not on your local machine or you want a new copy, clone the project through File > Clone.

This will then prompt you to open the newly copied project in GitKraken Client.


Initialize a new project

Starting a project in GitKraken Client is easy through File > Init

All you need to do is fill out the fields and select for the magic to begin.

Input

  • New repository path

  • .gitignore template (optional)

    • Automatically creates a .gitignore file in your working copy.
  • License (optional)

Output

  • A new initialized Git project at the specified repository path by creating a .git folder.
  • The project is opened in GitKraken Client
  • An “Initial commit” on a master branch containing a blank README.md along with a .gitignore and LICENSE.md if applicable.

    GitKraken Client also allows initializing a repository directly to a remote Git hosting provider such as GitHub and Bitbucket.


Delete a repository

You may delete a repository by first navigating to the folder icon in the upper left corner of GitKraken Client UI.

Then browse through your repo list and right-click on the repository you wish to delete from your local machine.

If you are unable to delete the repository, first make sure it is closed in GitKraken Client and then close any other applications which may be working with files in the repository. Restart GitKraken Client and try the delete again.

Deleting the repo from within GitKraken Client will only delete your local copy of the repository. If you wish to delete your remote repository, you will need to perform that action directly by logging into your remote hosting service (GitHub, GitLab, etc).

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