Diffy: A Real-Time Git Repository Watcher

Diffy serves as an intuitive Git repository watcher, designed to enhance the experience of tracking changes in codebases with real-time diffs. This tool provides a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to monitor multiple Git repositories simultaneously, making it ideal for developers who manage multiple projects.

Key Features

• Multi-Repository Management: Easily handle multiple Git repositories at once, each displayed in separate tabs for convenient access.
• Real-Time Watching: Receive instant updates in the user interface when files are modified, utilizing native file system watching for immediate responsiveness.
• Dual Diff Modes: Choose between side-by-side and inline diff views to suit personal preferences or project requirements.
• Syntax Highlighting: Benefit from advanced code-aware syntax highlighting for over 100 languages, leveraging TextMate grammars for clarity and readability.
• Diff Minimap: Navigate changes at a glance with a bird's-eye view overlay, providing a summary of modifications throughout the project.

Comprehensive Git Integration

• Commit History Browser: Access a paginated history view showing 50 commits per page for efficient tracking of repository changes.
• Commit File Viewing: Quickly see detailed changes to files for any given commit, allowing for effective review of project history.
• Branch Display: The current branch is highlighted in the tab headers, simplifying branch management.
• Safe Repository Handling: A one-click solution is available for resolving Git safe.directory configuration issues, enhancing usability.

Advanced Search and Navigation Options

• Content Search: Search for specific file paths and file contents, including differences, to find relevant changes quickly.
• History Search: Locate commits effortlessly by searching through commit hashes, messages, or authors.
• Jump to Change: Use keyboard shortcuts (F7 / Shift+F7) to navigate between differences swiftly.

Enhanced User Experience

• Theming Options: Select from light, dark, and system themes to customize the interface according to user preference.
• Whitespace Toggle: Adjust diff views to ignore whitespace, providing a clearer understanding of important changes.
• Recent Repositories: Conveniently access the last ten opened repositories to streamline workflow.
• Context Menu Integration: Right-click any folder in Windows Explorer to immediately open it with Diffy for monitoring.
• Single Instance Operation: Prevents the hassles of multiple instances, ensuring users maintain focus on their work.

Architecture and Technology Stack

Built using the robust .NET 8 framework with C# 12, Diffy employs the MVVM pattern through Avalonia UI and incorporates various technologies like ReactiveUI for reactivity, LibGit2Sharp for Git operations, and DiffPlex for generating diffs. This modern architecture ensures a responsive design that meets developer needs.

Contribution and Development

Contributions to the Diffy project are encouraged, with a well-defined setup process for contributors. The platform supports an ongoing enhancement cycle, and developers can engage in creating new features or improving existing functionalities.

In summary, Diffy provides a comprehensive solution for developers looking to efficiently monitor Git repositories with real-time capabilities, a friendly UI, and powerful features tailored to enhance the developer experience.