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Guides developers in installing, configuring, and selecting Git GUI clients (GitKraken, Sourcetree, GitHub Desktop) across Windows, macOS, Linux. Compares features, licensing; troubleshoots setup.
How this skill is triggered — by the user, by Claude, or both
Slash command
/git:gui-toolsThis skill is limited to the following tools:
The summary Claude sees in its skill listing — used to decide when to auto-load this skill
Optional graphical user interface tools for Git. These tools provide visual interfaces for Git operations, making it easier to stage changes, review diffs, manage branches, and visualize repository history.
Optional graphical user interface tools for Git. These tools provide visual interfaces for Git operations, making it easier to stage changes, review diffs, manage branches, and visualize repository history.
This skill helps you:
Important: All GUI tools are optional. They complement the command-line interface but are not required for Git usage. Many developers prefer command-line Git exclusively.
Use this skill when:
Before installing new GUI tools, check what's already installed on your system.
Check for existing GUI tools:
# Check if GitKraken is installed
which gitkraken # macOS/Linux
where.exe gitkraken # Windows PowerShell
# Check if Sourcetree is installed
# Windows: Check "C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\SourceTree"
# macOS: Check "/Applications/Sourcetree.app"
test -d "/Applications/Sourcetree.app" && echo "Sourcetree installed" || echo "Sourcetree not found"
# Check if GitHub Desktop is installed
which github-desktop # macOS/Linux (as 'github')
where.exe GitHubDesktop # Windows PowerShell
# Check built-in Git GUI tools (come with Git)
git gui --version # Git GUI (built-in with Git)
gitk --version # gitk (built-in repository browser)
If no GUI tools are installed, proceed with Quick Start below.
Windows - Quick Install:
# GitKraken (cross-platform, modern UI, requires license for private repos)
winget install --id Axosoft.GitKraken -e --source winget
# Sourcetree (free, Atlassian, Windows/macOS only)
winget install --id Atlassian.Sourcetree -e --source winget
# GitHub Desktop (free, simple, GitHub-focused)
winget install --id GitHub.GitHubDesktop -e --source winget
# Fork (free evaluation, fast and modern)
winget install --id Fork.Fork -e --source winget
macOS - Quick Install:
# GitKraken (via Homebrew Cask)
brew install --cask gitkraken
# Sourcetree (via Homebrew Cask)
brew install --cask sourcetree
# GitHub Desktop (via Homebrew Cask)
brew install --cask github
# Fork (via Homebrew Cask)
brew install --cask fork
Linux - Quick Install:
# GitKraken (download .deb or .rpm from website)
# https://www.gitkraken.com/download
# GitHub Desktop (community fork)
# https://github.com/shiftkey/desktop
# GitAhead (open source, lightweight)
# https://github.com/gitahead/gitahead
| Tool | Platforms | License | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| GitKraken | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free (public repos), Pro (private) | Teams, visual learners, complex workflows |
| Sourcetree | Windows, macOS | Free | Atlassian users, feature-rich GUI |
| GitHub Desktop | Windows, macOS, Linux (fork) | Free | GitHub users, simplicity |
| Fork | Windows, macOS | Free (evaluation) | Modern alternative to Sourcetree |
| Git GUI/gitk | All (comes with Git) | Free (GPL) | Lightweight, no installation |
| GitAhead | Windows, macOS, Linux | Free (MIT) | Lightweight, open source |
📖 For detailed comparison: See references/tool-comparison.md for comprehensive feature analysis, licensing details, and official documentation links.
For detailed installation instructions for each platform, see:
Git ships with two built-in GUI tools:
# Open gitk (history browser)
gitk --all
# Open Git GUI (commit tool)
git gui
📖 For detailed usage: See references/built-in-tools.md for commands, features, and use cases.
Quick recommendations:
📖 For detailed guidance: See references/choosing-right-tool.md for comprehensive decision criteria.
After installing a GUI tool:
📖 For detailed steps: See references/configuration.md for complete post-installation configuration.
Common issues:
📖 For detailed solutions: See references/troubleshooting.md for comprehensive troubleshooting guidance.
Testing Status:
| Model | Status | Date Tested | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Sonnet | ✅ VERIFIED | 2025-11-25 | Skill activates correctly, provides appropriate tool recommendations with platform-specific guidance |
| Claude Haiku | 🔄 PENDING | — | Recommend testing: Activation reliability, concise recommendations |
| Claude Opus | 🔄 PENDING | — | Recommend testing: Over-explanation risk, cross-platform complexity |
Last Updated: 2025-11-28
Detailed Guides:
💡 Tip for AI Agents: When helping users choose or install Git GUI tools, consider using available MCP servers for current information:
- Pricing Updates: Use
perplexityMCP with query like "GitKraken 2025 pricing plans" orfirecrawlto fetch pricing pages directly- License Changes: Use
refMCP to check official vendor documentation for licensing updates- Platform Availability: Use
web_searchto verify tool availability on specific platforms or regions
npx claudepluginhub melodic-software/claude-code-plugins --plugin gitGuides Git installation and basic configuration (user identity, default branch, editor) on Windows, macOS, Linux, WSL. Verifies setup and troubleshoots issues.
Provides Git workflow patterns including branching strategies, commit conventions, merge vs rebase, and conflict resolution for teams of all sizes.