tig

Tig is an ncurses-based text-mode interface for Git that transforms Git repository interaction into a visual terminal experience. It functions primarily as a Git repository browser, allowing users to navigate through commit history, branches, and repository structure using keyboard navigation within a text-based interface.

Beyond browsing, Tig provides staging capabilities that allow users to stage changes for commit at the chunk level, offering granular control over what gets included in commits. The tool also serves as a pager for various Git command outputs, replacing or supplementing standard Git command-line workflows with an interactive visual interface.

Tig targets developers who prefer terminal-based workflows but want more visual navigation than standard Git commands provide. It bridges the gap between command-line Git and full GUI Git clients, offering the speed and keyboard-driven efficiency of terminal tools while providing visual context for repository state and history.