Snappy Git UI that helps with everyday git operations

[RicoP]

Since a while I have this idea that I want to reinvent Github Desktop in C++ and using imgui.

Basically a very simple UI that helps me with adding, unadding, committing and pushing files in my git repo without being super sluggish. Github Desktop get's the job done, but it's slow and no fun to use.

One way how this UI would be better than Github Desktop is that it would show every operation in a integrated Terminal window. When ticking the checkmark next to a changed file you would see git add file.cpp, when unticking said file you would see git reset file.cpp.

So there is no magic, every operation is transparent, which would also be a great help for beginners that don't feel comfortable using the commandline, so they see what those UIs actually do. Plus, heavy duty stuff that isn't supported in our UI can be done right in the build in terminal.

The tool isn't supposed to be a source tree killer, but a simple tool without many bells and whistles that get's my git needs covered for my private projects.

I can create UI mockups and do programming, but some help would be appreciated.

A Simple Mockup

[mmozeiko]

The left side of this mockup is pretty much what TortoiseGit offers. Simple dialog with list of changed files that you can put checkboxes to commit, or right click & revert. And a text field for message + commit button. I've been using TortoiseGit as my main UI since forever when terminal is not enough (way before Github Desktop existed, tbh I don't know what Github Desktop is) and it's been always great. Built on native gui, no electron bullshit. Here's some random screenshot from google: http://en.morzel.net/pics/PostImg/tortoisehook-git-commit.png

[TheGag96]

I use TortoiseGit too, for work, and although I wouldn't say it's perfect, it's actually pretty good. A lot of helpful info/actions are a right-click away in pretty intuitive ways. At home I also use Sublime Merge which really fits OP's requirement of "snappy". It's really nice! If you'd still rather make your own, they're worth a look for feature/UI ideas.

[Drainyard]

I've used something called Fork recently which is just so much better than SourceTree or GitHub Desktop that it's crazy more people don't know about it. It's free or a one time $50 fee to support the devs.

[bvisness]

The thing I find most interesting about this suggestion is not making Git easy, it's making Git transparent.

I have spoken many times on the Handmade Network Discord about my distaste for Git's UI and how I think you could build a much better one on top of Git's actual data. Something like gitless is an example of this; it's not just a pretty shell on top of Git's usual "porcelain", it's actually a different concept altogether that still uses the same underlying data.

GitUp is another example of a somewhat different UI, this one graphical. GitUp in particular does branch visualization differently from other programs (which are obviously thin shells over git log --graph), and it has true undo/redo.

For completeness I should also mention tig, which is a program Martins has recommended multiple times as a nicer UI for common operations. And people love to talk up Magit but I've never tried it.

Anyway, I'd definitely be interested in the project presented here, where git commands are shown alongside their GUI counterparts. I think that would be nice. But I bet you could also go a lot farther.

[rfaile313]

For completeness I should also mention tig, which is a program Martins has recommended multiple times as a nicer UI for common operations.

I also use tig often (and see others use it extensively) and would recommend looking into it before starting this project.

[dortamiguel]

Have you seen GitSavvy? https://github.com/timbrel/GitSavvy

I love this tool but is only a sublime text plugin, I always wished I had something like this for the terminal

[kevinfiol]

I use Sublime Merge and if you open the console view Tools > Show Console, it will show the CLI git commands as you use the UI.

Not quite like your mockup, but Merge is pretty snappy. I do like this idea.

[nektro]

git gui is also great