Simplify Git inspections with this single-command dashboard tool

Managing a Git repository often means running a handful of separate commands just to grasp its current state. You may start with git status to list modified files, then git log to inspect commit history, and finally git diff to compare changes. While these commands become routine with practice, toggling between them can still slow down your workflow. The open-source CLI tool gst consolidates these scattered views into one unified terminal dashboard.

One dashboard, all Git state insights

Running gst opens a read-only terminal user interface that displays your current branch, remote tracking status, staged changes, working directory diffs, stashes and a compact commit graph. Instead of opening multiple panes or terminals, you see everything in one place—ideal for quick audits before you move on to commits or merges.

The tool excels at illustrating the relationship between local and remote branches. Colored indicators clearly show if your local branch is ahead of, behind, or diverged from its remote counterpart. That visibility is invaluable when you resume work after a break or need to confirm your changes are properly aligned before pushing.

Stay safe with read-only operations

Unlike Git clients that modify repositories, gst performs no mutations. It never runs push, pull, checkout, commit, merge or rebase. This makes the tool safe for anyone, including Git beginners, to inspect repository status without risking accidental changes.

Visual diffs and copy-to-clipboard shortcuts

Staged and working-directory changes are often managed in separate layers within Git. gst labels files with clear markers such as INDEX, WORKTREE, NEW and CONFLICT. Within the diff view you can toggle between working directory and staged changes using tabs or arrow keys, helping you verify exactly what will land in your next commit.

Need to share a diff with a teammate or an AI assistant? Press y to copy the working directory diff to the clipboard and i to copy staged changes. Both copies appear in patch format, ready to be applied with git apply. Pressing a copies a full patch from HEAD to the working directory—including untracked files—so you can share an entire change set in one click.

Installation and usage tips

Installing gst requires Go. From your terminal run:

go install github.com/lef237/gst/cmd/gst@latest

Once installed, launch the interactive dashboard with:

gst

To display a one-time snapshot and exit immediately, use:

gst --once

Inside the TUI, use tab or arrow keys to switch between views. Press r to refresh the display and q to quit.

When to reach for gst

gst isn’t meant to replace Git’s core operations. Instead, it acts as a lightweight companion that shows the repository’s shape in real time. Whether you’re onboarding a new team member, auditing changes before a review, or preparing to share a diff, the tool delivers a single-pane view that keeps workflows flowing without unnecessary context switching.

Try it on your next project and see how a consolidated Git status dashboard can save time and reduce confusion.