gui Git Command Guide

The git gui command provides a portable graphical user interface for Git using Tcl/Tk, focusing on commit creation, branch management, and file operations with cross-platform support for Unix, macOS, and Windows.

git gui Syntax:

git gui [<command>] [<arguments>]

Command Subcommands:

Command	Description
(none)	Start the main GUI interface
blame []	Start blame viewer on file
browser	Browse tree at specified commit
citool	Single-commit mode interface

Arguments:

Argument	Description
	File path for blame operations
	Commit/tree object to examine
	Command-specific arguments

Caution

gui requires Tcl/Tk installation and is designed for commit authoring, not history browsing. Use gitk for repository history visualization.

git gui Command Samples:

Launch standard GUI interface

git gui

Opens the main git gui window for staging, committing, and branch management.

Quick single commit mode

git gui citool

Starts simplified interface that exits after exactly one commit.

File annotation viewer

git gui blame Makefile

Shows blame/annotate view for Makefile in current working directory.

Commit-specific file blame

git gui blame v1.2 src/main.c

Shows file content and blame for src/main.c at tag v1.2.

Tree browser at HEAD

git gui browser HEAD

Opens tree browser showing all files and directories at HEAD.

Blame with uncommitted changes

echo "# modification" >> file.txt
git gui blame file.txt

Shows working directory file with unstaged changes attributed to “Not Yet Committed”.

GUI for specific repository

cd /path/to/repo && git gui

Launches gui for specific repository.

Remote repository operations

git gui
# Then use menus: Remote -> Fetch From -> origin

Fetch from remote repository through graphical interface.

Amend last commit

git gui
# Select "Amend Last Commit" checkbox, make changes, commit

Modify and re-commit the most recent commit.

Create and switch to new branch

git gui
# Branch -> Create -> [new branch name]

Create new branch through graphical interface.

Tip

git gui provides visual staging, commit creation, and basic branch operations. For history browsing, launch gitk from git gui’s Repository menu. Cross-platform Tcl/Tk ensures consistent experience.

How does git gui help beginners?

git gui provides visual representation of Git concepts like staging area, making it easier to understand file states (modified, staged, committed) before learning command-line equivalents.

What’s the difference between git gui and GUI-based IDEs?

git gui is specifically for Git operations, showing staging area, diffs, and commits. IDE integrations usually embed git gui functionality or provide their own Git interface.

Can git gui handle large codebases?

git gui works well with large codebases but may need optimization for repositories with thousands of files. Close unnecessary windows and work with smaller chunks for best performance.

How do I configure git gui appearance?

git gui appearance can be customized through ~/.gitconfig or via GUI preferences menu. Font sizes, colors, and layout options are configurable.

Is git gui suitable for team collaboration?

git gui is individual developer tool for local Git operations. For team collaboration, use it alongside command-line pushes/pulls and consider separate tools for code review and merge requests.

Can git gui show merge conflicts?

git gui includes merge conflict resolution tools with side-by-side comparison of conflicting versions. It highlights conflicts and allows interactive resolution.

What’s the relationship between git gui and gitk?

git gui creates commits, gitk browses history. They integrate seamlessly - git gui can launch gitk sessions, and gitk can show details that lead back to git gui for modifications.

How do I troubleshoot git gui startup issues?

Common issues are missing Tcl/Tk installation. Verify Tcl/Tk presence with echo 'puts [info patchlevel];exit 0' | tclsh. Install missing packages through system package manager.

Does git gui support Git submodules?

git gui shows submodule status and allows basic submodule operations but may need command-line supplementation for complex submodule workflows.

Can git gui handle rebasing operations?

git gui focuses on basic committing and merging. For rebasing, use command-line git rebase or specialized rebasing GUI tools. git gui can show rebase status but doesn’t provide rebase UI.

What’s git gui citool’s use case?

citool is designed for commit templates or scripted scenarios where exactly one commit is needed. Useful in deployment scripts or when committing generated changes.

How do I set up commit templates in git gui?

Configure commit.template in git config to specify template file. git gui will pre-populate commit message box with template content for consistent commit messages.

Can git gui show diffs for binary files?

git gui shows binary files as changed but cannot display content diffs. Use external diff tools for binary file comparison or rely on command-line git diff.

Is there a dark mode for git gui?

git gui color scheme follows system theme. Dark mode availability depends on Tcl/Tk version and system theme settings. Some customization possible through git config settings.

How do I export patches from git gui?

git gui focuses on creating commits, not exporting patches. Use git format-patch command or git gui’s “Repository -> Visualize” to launch gitk for patch export options.

Can git gui handle file renaming operations?

git gui detects renames and shows them in staging area. Select “Stage Changed” to stage rename operations along with content changes.

What’s the performance impact of blame operations?

Blame operations are CPU and I/O intensive, especially in large repositories. Consider caching blame information or using —incremental option if available.

Does git gui support Git hooks?

git gui executes Git hooks normally. Pre-commit hooks that require user input may interrupt GUI workflow, requiring command-line supplementation.

Can I use git gui in a CI/CD pipeline?

git gui is interactive tool requiring display. Not suitable for automated CI/CD pipelines. Use command-line git operations in automated environments.

How do I backup git gui settings?

git gui settings are stored in standard Git configuration. Copy ~/.gitconfig to preserve custom settings, themes, and preferences across machines.

Applications of the git gui command

1. Visual Git Learning: Graphical introduction to Git concepts without command-line complexity
2. Rapid Prototyping: Quick commits and branch experiments in development workflows
3. File Review Workflows: Visual diff and staging interface for code review preparation
4. Beginner Development: Entry point for developers learning version control principles
5. Cross-Platform Development: Consistent Git interface across Windows, macOS, and Linux
6. Educational Training: Teaching tool for Git concepts like staging, commits, and branching