Explore the seamless way to edit a GitHub repo without downloading any app or the repo, all thanks to the web version of Visual Studio Code. This process not only allows for easy editing but also automatically pushes changes to the repo once committed.
Key Insights
- Visual Studio Code, built with web tech, facilitates editing directly on github.com without downloading an app or the repo.
- Users can log into github.com and navigate to their desired GitHub repo to start the editing process.
- By simply hitting the period key (.), users can open the web version of Visual Studio Code right in their browser.
- This browser-based feature of Visual Studio Code allows for opening files and making edits with no need for downloading.
- Once edits are made and committed, the changes will automatically be pushed to the repo, making the process more efficient.
- This feature greatly simplifies the GitHub repo editing process and enhances user experience.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s Git & GitHub training materials and is compatible with updates through 2022. To continue learning web development with hands-on training, check out our coding bootcamps in NYC and live online.
github.dev Web Editor
-
Log In to GitHub.com
Navigate to the repo you want to edit.
-
Press Period (.) Key
Launches the web version of VS Code right in your browser — no download required.
-
Edit Files in the Editor
Full editor experience — open files, make changes, all in the browser.
-
Commit & Push
Source Control panel — commits push directly to the GitHub repo.
Editing a GitHub Repo Directly with Nothing to Download
Visual Studio Code was built with using web tech, so you can use it in a web browser directly on GitHub.com without having to download an app or the repo.
- Log into GitHub.com
- Navigate to the GitHub repo you want to edit.
- Hit the period key (.) to open the web version of Visual Studio Code right in your browser. Nothing must be downloaded!
- Open files, make any edits, etc.
- When you commit, the changes will automatically be pushed to the repo. Sweet!
