Quick Reference for Farmers --- How to use GitHub on your laptop, tablet, or phone
GitHub works best on a laptop or desktop computer with a full web browser. This is the recommended device for all training sessions.
Recommended browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari (latest version)
| What You Need | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| Create new repository/Issue | + button, top-right corner |
| Your repositories | Profile avatar (top-right) → "Your repositories" |
| Notifications | Bell icon, top-right corner |
| Settings | Profile avatar → "Settings" |
| Search | Search bar at the top of the page, or press / |
| Issues tab | Inside a repository, in the tab bar below the repo name |
| Projects tab | Inside a repository, or profile avatar → "Your projects" |
| Shortcut | What It Does |
|---|---|
| / | Open the search bar |
| g then i | Go to Issues (when inside a repository) |
| g then p | Go to Pull Requests |
| c | Create a new Issue (when on the Issues page) |
| Ctrl+Enter (or Cmd+Enter on Mac) | Submit a comment or Issue |
- Use bookmarks to save your most-used repositories for quick access
- Keep GitHub open in its own browser tab while you work
- Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to search for text on any page
- Right-click links and select "Open in new tab" to keep your current page open
GitHub works on tablets through the web browser. The mobile GitHub app has limited features, so use the browser for the full experience.
Recommended: Use your tablet's web browser (Safari on iPad, Chrome on Android) and request the desktop site for the best experience.
iPad (Safari):
- Open Safari and go to github.com
- Tap the "aA" icon in the address bar (top-left)
- Select "Request Desktop Website"
Android tablet (Chrome):
- Open Chrome and go to github.com
- Tap the three-dot menu (top-right)
- Check "Desktop site"
| Feature | What's Different |
|---|---|
| Typing | Slower with on-screen keyboard; consider a Bluetooth keyboard |
| Drag and drop | Project board columns may require long-press to drag |
| Right-click menus | Use long-press instead of right-click |
| Multiple tabs | Use your browser's tab feature to keep multiple pages open |
| File editing | Works, but the editor is smaller --- pinch to zoom if needed |
| Copilot | Works the same as on laptop via the browser |
- Invest in a Bluetooth keyboard if you'll use GitHub regularly --- typing is much faster
- Use a tablet stand to keep the screen at a comfortable angle
- Pinch to zoom on small text or buttons
- Turn the tablet to landscape orientation for more screen width
- Bookmark your most-used repositories on the home screen for quick access
- If the site looks broken, make sure you're using the desktop version
GitHub can be used on a phone, but the screen is small. Phones are best for checking on things (notifications, reading Issues) rather than creating content. For creating Issues, setting up Projects, or using Copilot, a larger screen is much easier.
Two options:
- GitHub Mobile App (recommended for checking notifications and reading)
- Web browser in desktop mode (needed for Projects, templates, and Copilot)
Download from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
What the app is good for:
- Reading and responding to notifications
- Viewing and commenting on Issues and Pull Requests
- Quick status checks on your repositories
- Reviewing assigned tasks
What the app cannot do well:
- Creating or editing Project boards
- Setting up Issue templates
- Using Copilot (browser only)
- Editing YAML files or workflows
- Complex formatting in Issue descriptions
For features not available in the app, use your phone's browser in desktop mode:
iPhone (Safari):
- Open Safari and go to github.com
- Tap the "aA" icon in the address bar
- Select "Request Desktop Website"
Android (Chrome):
- Open Chrome and go to github.com
- Tap the three-dot menu (top-right)
- Check "Desktop site"
| Feature | What's Different |
|---|---|
| Screen size | Everything is smaller --- zoom in frequently |
| Typing | Slow for long descriptions; dictate instead if possible |
| Navigation | Menus may be hidden behind hamburger icons (three lines) |
| Projects | Board view works but columns are narrow; use Table view instead |
| Copilot | Works in browser only (not in the app) |
| File editing | Possible but difficult; save detailed editing for a computer |
- Use the GitHub Mobile App for reading and responding --- it's faster than the browser
- Switch to the browser (desktop mode) when you need full features
- Use voice dictation for typing long descriptions (tap the microphone on your keyboard)
- Rotate to landscape for more width on Project boards
- Set up push notifications in the app so you don't miss important updates
- Save detailed work (creating Issues, setting up Projects, using Copilot) for when you have access to a tablet or computer
- Bookmark your repository on your phone's home screen for quick access
| Task | Best Device | Also Works On |
|---|---|---|
| Create a repository | Laptop | Tablet |
| Create Issues | Laptop | Tablet, Phone (simple Issues only) |
| Set up a Project board | Laptop | Tablet |
| Use Copilot | Laptop | Tablet (browser) |
| Read notifications | Phone (app) | Laptop, Tablet |
| Comment on Issues | Phone (app) | Laptop, Tablet |
| Create templates | Laptop | Tablet (desktop mode) |
| Set up Actions/workflows | Laptop | Not recommended on smaller screens |
| View Timeline/Roadmap | Laptop | Tablet (landscape) |
| Quick status check | Phone (app) | Any device |
- Keep your browser up to date --- GitHub uses modern web features
- Use a strong Wi-Fi connection --- GitHub works poorly on slow or intermittent internet
- Enable auto-fill for your GitHub password so you don't have to type it every time
- Adjust text size in your browser settings if text is too small
- If something looks broken, try refreshing the page or switching to desktop mode
Start with whatever device you have. As you use GitHub more, you'll find the right device for each task. Most farmers use a laptop for setup and a phone for checking in.