In response to requests from users the new major version of GitHub Desktop has two new features whose names - stashing and rebasing - make sense once you know how they work. It also supports sending emojis in commit messages.

As we reported when Version 1.0 was released as open source in September 2017, the GitHub Desktop client lets you create branches, collaborate with other developers, and commit changes without needing to use the command line. It reappeared in our news in November 2018 when Version 1.5 improved handling of merge conflicts. 

Announcing the release of GitHub Desktop Version 2.0 on the GitHub Blog, Billy Griffin writes:

 As you’ve seen from GitHub more broadly, we’re focused on listening to our users and supporting the workflows you need to be most successful when building software. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or brand new to concepts like version control, GitHub Desktop puts the things you need most front and center.

He goes on to explain that recognizing that individual developers and teams have different ways of working, the goal with GitHub Desktop 2.0 is to allow teams to work together collaboratively and support common development patterns used by teams which use GitHub. Hence the inclusion of the support for the Git stash and rebase commands.

If these are unfamiliar, stashing addresses a situation in which developers can be in the middle of reproducing and fixing a bug and need to temporarily switch context. A developer not ready to commit work can bring changes to a new Git branch or keep them in a current branch. 

Here is stashing in action in GitHub Desktop 2.0:

Rebasing is intended for those who prefer a clean commit history without merge commits and Version 2 has a new feature that enable you to rebase your current branch onto another branch using a guided flow.

Adding emojis to commit messages may sound like a frivolous embellishment but Billy Griffin puts it in context: 

Working together to create new things should be fun, and small things can make a big difference. Since 1.0, we introduced features that help foster a creative and supportive team dynamic—you can add emojis to commit messages, select a co-author of a commit just by mentioning their GitHub username, and push your work to GitHub with the suggested next step when you’re done committing. Sharing credit for work accomplished with others has never been easier.

The new release has a fix to ensure emoji rendereing when the account name has special characters.

More Information

GitHub Desktop

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GitHub Desktop Released

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