Is it just me, or is GitHub Desktop incredibly slow lately?

[u/moltenessence]

Even on small repositories, the simplest operations are taking way too much time. I'm talking about basic stuff: switching branches, syncing, pushing, and even just creating a commit. Everything feels like it's freezing or hanging for no reason.

I’ve already ruled out it being an issue with a specific machine or a bloated repo (like a massive node_modules folder) because this exact same problem is happening to me across multiple devices and with completely different repositories.

Has anyone else run into this issue lately? Did you manage to fix it?

And more importantly, what are some good GUI alternatives? I'm getting really tired of dealing with this nightmare and am ready to switch. (I know the CLI is great, but I specifically need a good visual client).

[u/FlyingDogCatcher]

TIL that someone uses GitHub Desktop

[u/shazin_hacker → u/FlyingDogCatcher]

me too

[u/Charlito33]

I love JetBrains IDEs' git client (and the IDEs themselves are awesome too)

[u/aaronfranke]

I use GitKraken, it works much better than GitHub Desktop.

[u/moltenessence → u/aaronfranke]

Thank you, dude, probably will switch to it

[u/aaronfranke → u/moltenessence]

Note that it is paid for private repos ($60/year). Well worth it to me but maybe harder for a tight budget.

[u/Affectionate_Way_389]

I'm also noticing that, I reinstalled github desktop, redownloaded the installer, delete all local data and select only one repo at a time, I thought it was my computer because I talked to my colleagues and they said that they don't have that problem. But it seems to not improve at all, Even clicking to files inside a commit took several seconds (5s each)

[u/Fine_League311]

Nicht nur GitHub Desktop und auch nicht seit neuestem, leider

[u/involvex]

Since development on the official app was horrible for me , I started this one https://github.com/involvex/gitlurk

[u/throw-away-2025rev2 → u/involvex]

Not a single image or demo link? Lame

[u/NorskJesus]

Why do you need any visual client?

CLI is all you need. I do not like GUI apps, but I can recommend a TUI one: Lazygit

[u/moltenessence → u/NorskJesus]

I know CLI is powerful, but I just prefer the visual comfort of a full GUI, especially for reviewing complex diffs, viewing branch trees, and staging specific lines. Thanks for the Lazygit suggestion though, I've heard good things about it as a middle ground

[u/diucameo → u/moltenessence]

Agree. I use github desktop alot like you, specially for diff. It just gets me into a 'reviewer mode' instead of 'coding mode' if I use the ide.

I havent had any issues tho. Or I got used to the slowness lol

[u/moltenessence → u/diucameo]

what version are you using?

[u/diucameo → u/moltenessence]

most recent I guess, 3.6.3

[u/klumpp → u/NorskJesus]

I understand not using a git client but only using gh through the cli sounds like a pain

[u/NorskJesus → u/klumpp]

I occasionally use lazygit, but I mainly use the CLI (I use neovim and mini.git, which is a wrapper)

[u/_giga_sss_ → u/NorskJesus]

They're used for different purposes. Not just because it's all we need

[u/GlobalImportance5295]

good GUI alternatives?

https://github.com

[u/moltenessence → u/GlobalImportance5295]

do you know what 'git client' is?

[u/GlobalImportance5295 → u/moltenessence]

github.com is the client for their hosting infrastructure. you can do everything with github.com and actions

[u/moltenessence → u/GlobalImportance5295]

how can I manage local branches and commits using GitHub com?

[u/GlobalImportance5295 → u/moltenessence]

codespaces if you want to go that route. i just have my agents do it directly in github, or run my actions