Git Log by Diffy

Git Log by Diffy is a Visual Studio Code extension for browsing repository history without leaving the editor. It opens a focused Git log workspace inside VS Code with repository switching, branch-aware history navigation, commit details, and side-by-side diff entry points.

Diffy uses the repositories already discovered by VS Code's built-in Git extension and reads history through the local git CLI. It is designed for fast inspection rather than a full desktop Git client replacement.

Features

• Browse repositories already opened in the current VS Code workspace.
• Switch history by branch, remote branch, tag, or HEAD.
• Filter commits by free-text search, author, and path.
• Inspect commit metadata and changed files in a dedicated details pane.
• Review uncommitted changes as a working tree row when looking at the active branch.
• Compare two commits or two branches from the toolbar.
• Open per-file diffs from commit details, compare results, or working tree changes.
• Save a patch for the current comparison.
• Copy a commit message, commit hash, or branch name from the commit row menu.
• Reveal the current file in the Explorer from a Diffy diff editor with Diffy: Open File and Reveal in Explorer.

Requirements

• Visual Studio Code 1.90.0 or newer
• Git installed and available on your PATH
• A folder or workspace with at least one Git repository

Node.js is only required if you want to build or package the extension from source.

Installation

From the Visual Studio Marketplace

1. Open the Extensions view in VS Code.
2. Search for Git Log by Diffy.
3. Select Install.

From a VSIX

code --install-extension diffy-<version>.vsix

You can also use Extensions: Install from VSIX... from the Extensions view menu.

Usage

1. Open a workspace that contains one or more Git repositories.
2. Run Diffy: Show Log from the Command Palette.
3. Pick a repository, branch, filters, or compare target from the toolbar.
4. Select a commit or the working tree row to inspect changed files.
5. Open file diffs directly from the details pane.

Commands

• Diffy: Show Log
• Diffy: Refresh Log
• Diffy: Open File and Reveal in Explorer

Extension Settings

Diffy contributes the following settings:

• diffy.defaultRef: default ref shown when Diffy opens. Default: HEAD
• diffy.maxCommitsPerPage: maximum number of commits loaded per page. Default: 200
• diffy.dateFormat: date style used in the log and details pane. Options: relative, absolute

Build From Source

npm install
npm run build

For active development:

npm run watch

Then open this repository in VS Code and launch the extension host with the standard Run Extension flow.

Packaging And Publishing

• Create a local VSIX with npm run package-it
• Follow the release checklist in PUBLISHING.md
• Track user-visible release notes in CHANGELOG.md

Development Scripts

• npm run build: bundle the extension and webview assets into dist/
• npm run watch: rebuild on file changes
• npm run typecheck: run TypeScript checks without emitting files
• npm test: run the repository validation sequence
• npm run package-it: create a VSIX package with vsce

License

MIT