The following are some of the best graphical Git clients for Linux.
1. Git Cola
Git Cola has been around for a decent amount of time, and it’s a classic example of an open-source Linux tool that does exactly what it needs to, without getting bogged down with a lot of unnecessary extras. Git Cola is written in Python and features a GTK interface, so it integrates perfectly with most desktops. Since it’s open source, it’s also available in most distribution repositories, making it easy to update and maintain.
2. GitEye
GitEye is a cross-platform freeware client for Git. It may not be open source, but it is freely available and free to use. Interestingly, GitEye doesn’t install on your computer. Instead, it comes packaged in binary form, and you can simply run it from its own directory. GitEye brings with it a more detailed interface. It has an excellent file tree browser to the left of the screen. GitEye also makes browsing and checking out your branches very simple. Additionally, GitEye has some neat features that allow you to track the history of a file and manage builds of a project via a build server.
3. Gitg
Gitg is the default graphical Git client for the GNOME desktop. Like many newer GNOME utilities, it’s sort of bare bones in appearance. GNOME’s minimalist design choices don’t mean that Gitg can’t do exactly what you need it to. Gitg has a great visualization of the project’s history, and it lets you select your branch on the fly. Its commit screen is a little confusing at first, but its actually very easy to use once you get the hang of it. It presents you with the staged changes, and you can easily evaluate them right there and create your commit.
4. QGit
If Gitg is the GNOME client, QGit is the Plasma/Qt one. QGit has been around for a while, and it’s really refined its approach. QGit also has an excellent visual representation of your project’s history that’s intuitive to navigate. You can not only see what the commit was but the affected files as well. It also has a great file tree browser that lets you dig through your project in a snap and view files and the changes made to them by revision.
5. SmartGit
SmartGit is another proprietary option. This time, though, it’s packaged for use on Linux systems. SmartGit is free for personal use but does require a license for the enterprise. SmartGit looks and feels a bit like an IDE. If you like programs like Netbeans and Eclipse, chances are SmartGit is for you. It’s packed with utilities and tools, and it makes navigating your project a breeze. It also has some excellent highlighting and visualization for your commits and changes to your projects.
