GitHub for Mac 1.2: Snow Octocat
Today we are announcing GitHub for Mac 1.2, an update we have dubbed Snow Octocat. Just like its bigger-cat cousin Snow Leopard, the goal for this release was to increase…
Today we are announcing GitHub for Mac 1.2, an update we have dubbed Snow Octocat.
Just like its bigger-cat cousin Snow Leopard, the goal for this release was to increase the stability and speed of the app. Tests have proven that 1.2 is approximately 3.29 quadrillion times faster than 1.1 and 4293% less likely to crash. It’s science.
Along with a few nice touches, we couldn’t resist completely re-designing the branch browser (⌘B).

It is now easier to jump between branches without taking your hands off the keyboard. Not only that, but you can now create branches from the popover as well. Simply type the name of the branch you want to create and hit return.

This release is the result of 819 commits from our, recently expanded, team but we are just getting started.
We have big plans for the Mac app this year.
Written by
Related posts
Take your local GitHub sessions anywhere
Kick off work in VS Code or the CLI, finish it from your phone. Remote control for GitHub Copilot sessions is now generally available on github.com and GitHub Mobile.
GitHub availability report: April 2026
In April, we experienced 10 incidents that resulted in degraded performance across GitHub services.
GitHub Copilot individual plans: Introducing flex allotments in Pro and Pro+, and a new Max plan
Starting June 1, our lineup of individual plans will update based on your feedback.
