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I am calling for better Git GUI client change staging support

Git is an incredibly powerful version control system, but its command-line interface can be daunting for many developers. While numerous GUI clients have emerged to make Git more accessible, most fall short when it comes to one critical feature: partial change staging.

Most Git GUI clients treat files as atomic units - you either stage the entire file or you don't. This is a significant limitation because:

  1. Mixed Changes - Often, a single file contains multiple logical changes that should be in separate commits
  2. Debugging Changes - You might add debugging statements while fixing a bug, but don't want to commit them
  3. Refactoring - You may refactor code while implementing a feature, and want to commit the refactoring separately

The ideal Git GUI client should provide:

The ability to visually select which lines or hunks of code to stage, similar to git add -p but with a intuitive visual interface.

The ability to edit changes directly in the staging view, allowing you to:

  • Remove debugging statements before committing
  • Fix typos noticed during review
  • Split changes into more logical chunks

Clear visual indicators showing:

  • What's in the working directory
  • What's staged
  • What's already committed
  • Conflicts and merge states

Git's command line offers git add -p (patch mode) which allows interactive staging of changes. While powerful, it's not user-friendly:

git add -p filename.js

This drops you into an interactive mode where you can stage or skip hunks of changes. But the interface is text-based and requires memorizing commands.

We need Git GUI clients that:

  • Make partial file staging as easy as clicking checkboxes
  • Provide visual feedback on what's staged vs unstaged
  • Allow editing of changes before staging
  • Support complex workflows without forcing users to the command line

If you're developing a Git GUI client, please prioritize these features. The developer community needs tools that match the power of Git with the usability we expect from modern software.