# **Managing Software Across Devices with GitHub: A Developer’s Workflow** ![[Github1.png]] As a developer who writes code on multiple devices—my Mac Studio, MacBook Air, iPad, and even my iPhone—I need a workflow that keeps everything in sync, safe, and easy to manage. GitHub, combined with powerful tools like **[Tower](https://www.git-tower.com/mac)** on macOS and **[Working Copy](https://workingcopy.app)** on iOS, has become my solution. In this post, I’ll share how GitHub makes multi-device development seamless, the benefits of using GUI Git clients, and why GitHub is invaluable whether you’re a solo developer or part of a large organization. --- ## **Why GitHub?** [GitHub](https://github.com) is more than just a hosting platform for Git repositories—it’s an ecosystem for version control, collaboration, and security. Here are a few reasons it’s at the center of my workflow: - **Version Control**: Every change is tracked. I can roll back to a working state, explore history, or branch out for experiments. - **Collaboration (even with myself)**: Even as a solo developer, GitHub lets me organize issues, use pull requests to review my own changes, and keep a professional record of my work. - **Portability**: Any device with Git access (macOS, iOS, Linux, Windows) can pull down the latest version of my projects. - **Security**: GitHub supports HTTPS with Personal Access Tokens (PATs) or SSH keys for secure authentication. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Fine-grained access control ensures only trusted devices/users can interact with repositories. - **Cloud Backup**: Every push to GitHub becomes an off-site backup of my code. If one of my machines dies, I don’t lose progress. --- ## **Tower on macOS: Git with Clarity** On macOS, I use **Tower**, a powerful Git client that makes complex Git operations more accessible. While the command line is always there, Tower provides visualization and safety nets that streamline development. ### **Key Benefits of Tower:** - **Commit History Visualization**: I can see branches, merges, and tags as a graph—perfect for understanding project evolution at a glance. - **Safe Undo**: If I make a mistake (like committing to the wrong branch), Tower offers “undo” operations for common Git errors. - **Interactive Rebase**: A clean commit history matters. Tower makes rebasing as easy as drag-and-drop. - **Services Integration**: Tower integrates smoothly with GitHub accounts, using Personal Access Tokens for secure authentication. ### **Example Workflow on macOS:** 1. Open Tower and **pull latest changes** from GitHub. 2. Edit code in my IDE (Neovim or VS Code). 3. **Stage changes** in Tower selectively—choosing exactly which hunks of code belong to this commit. 4. **Commit** with a descriptive message. 5. **Push** to GitHub, syncing my Mac Studio with all other devices. --- ## **Working Copy on iPhone and iPad: Git in Your Pocket** Mobile development is often underestimated, but with **Working Copy**, my iPhone and iPad become full Git clients. This allows me to review, edit, and push code even when I’m away from my desk. ### **Key Benefits of Working Copy:** - **Full Git Client**: Clone, commit, push, pull—everything you’d expect from Git. - **iOS Integration**: Works with Files app and supports external editors like Textastic or even Shortcuts. - **Secure Authentication**: Uses SSH keys or PATs just like on macOS. - **Quick Fixes**: Perfect for small edits, like updating documentation or tweaking a script, without booting up a laptop. ### **Example Workflow on iOS:** 1. **Clone repository** from GitHub into Working Copy. 2. Open a file in Textastic or built-in editor and **make changes**. 3. Stage and commit inside Working Copy. 4. **Push changes**—GitHub syncs them to the cloud. 5. Later, when I return to my Mac, I just **pull** the latest version in Tower. --- ## **Security and Encryption** When working across devices, security is paramount. GitHub enforces strong encryption and provides multiple authentication options: - **HTTPS with PATs**: Replaces old password-based logins with secure, revocable tokens. - **SSH Keys**: Public/private key pairs for strong cryptographic authentication. - **GPG/SSH Commit Signing**: Ensures commits are verified as coming from me. - **Encrypted Storage**: GitHub encrypts repositories at rest, protecting data even on their servers. For a single developer, these protections mean my code is safe even if a device is compromised. For organizations, they provide a framework for compliance and audit trails. --- ## **GitHub for the Solo Developer vs. Large Organizations** GitHub scales beautifully from one person to thousands: ### **For Solo Developers** - Acts as both source control and backup. - GitHub Issues and Projects help organize tasks, even for personal projects. - GitHub Actions can automate testing or deployments for side projects. ### **For Large Organizations** - Fine-grained access control with teams and roles. - Branch protection rules ensure only reviewed, tested code lands in main branches. - Advanced security features like Dependabot, code scanning, and secret scanning guard against vulnerabilities. - Enterprise integrations provide compliance and management at scale. --- ## **Why This Workflow Works** By combining **GitHub**, **Tower**, and **Working Copy**, I’ve built a workflow that lets me: - Write code anywhere, on any device. - Keep everything in sync with minimal effort. - Maintain professional-grade version control practices. - Ensure security, backups, and flexibility in my projects. It doesn’t matter if I’m at my desk on macOS or on the go with iOS—my entire development environment follows me. --- ## **Final Thoughts** GitHub has become the backbone of modern software development. For me, it’s not just about collaboration with others, but also collaboration with myself across devices. With Tower and Working Copy, I get the best of both worlds: powerful, visual Git management on desktop and true portability on mobile. Whether you’re a single developer managing Python scripts or a global enterprise building mission-critical software, GitHub provides the tools, security, and scalability to support your work. - [Bombich Software](https://bombich.com) - [[Data Backup]] - [[Data Security]] - [[Understanding Network Encryption and Security]] - [[Understanding Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)--A Comprehensive Technical Exploration]] - [[NAS storage]] - [[Ethernet Routers]] - [[Computers]] - [[The Tech Pastor|home]] ◦ [[Contact]]