Getting started

Git Explorer is a single-window macOS app. There's no account, no telemetry, and nothing to configure beyond pointing it at the folder your projects live in.

Install

Git Explorer ships for Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) only. Intel Macs aren't supported in the binary release — see build from source if needed.

1. Download git-explorer-macos-aarch64.dmg from the latest release.
2. Open the .dmg and drag Git Explorer into /Applications.
3. Eject the disk image.

First launch

The v0.1.0 build is fully unsigned. macOS Ventura and later refuse to open it with "Git Explorer is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash." Right-click → Open does not work for a fully unsigned app — you need to remove the quarantine flag in Terminal:

xattr -cr /Applications/Git\ Explorer.app

Run that once, then double-click the app normally. macOS will ask you to confirm opening an app from an unidentified developer — click Open. From then on it launches like any other app.

Releases from v0.1.1 onward will be ad-hoc signed, so the quarantine step won't be needed — a normal right-click → Open is enough.

Pick a root directory

On first launch the app will ask for a root directory. Point it at the folder that contains your projects — typically ~/Code, ~/Projects, or similar.

Git Explorer walks up to 10 levels deep from that root, skips dotfile directories, and lists every folder that contains a .git entry (regular repo, worktree, or submodule).

Your choice is saved to ~/.config/git-explorer/config.json as a single field:

{
  "root_path": "/Users/you/Code"
}

Reading the tree

Each repo in the tree has a colored dot indicating its state:

The precedence is dirty > diverged > ahead > behind > clean. A repo with both staged and unpushed work shows yellow.

What's next

• See the keyboard shortcuts.
• Read the FAQ for common questions about signing, config, and bug reports.
• File an issue or contribute on GitHub.