Guide · Open source
How to use git-extras: install it and run its Git commands
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
git-extras is a free, MIT-licensed collection of shell scripts that adds extra commands to Git. It is meant for people who already use Git in a terminal and want shortcuts for tasks such as summarizing a repository, populating a changelog and calculating author commit percentages. This guide shows what you need before installing, how to get the project, and how to decide whether it fits your workflow.
git-extrastj/git-extras · ★ 18.1k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Confirm Git is installed. Check that Git runs in your terminal. git-extras requires Git to be present.
- 2Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/tj/git-extras to copy the project to your machine.
- 3Open the cloned folder. Move into the new git-extras directory so you can read its files.
- 4Read the full README. Find the build and install instructions in the README, since the excerpt used for this analysis omits them.
- 5Build and install. Follow the README's build and install steps exactly for your operating system.
- 6Confirm the commands work. Run one of the git-extras commands inside a Git repository to check the install.
What git-extras is and who it is for
git-extras is a set of shell scripts. According to the project analysis, it is meant to be installed alongside Git so its commands appear as regular git subcommands.
It fits developers who use Git daily, maintainers who want quick contribution statistics, people who write release notes, and terminal users who like small, scriptable helpers.
- Good fit: daily Git users who want shortcuts for common repository tasks
- Good fit: maintainers who want to know who has contributed to a project
- Good fit: people who write changelog entries
- Not a fit: people who prefer a graphical Git client, since this is a command-line tool
What you need before you install git-extras
The only listed prerequisite is Git. The project is written in Shell, so you will work from a terminal.
The README excerpt used for this analysis is truncated, so it does not confirm every requirement beyond Git. Check the full README in the repository before you start.
- Git installed and available in your terminal
- A terminal you are comfortable using
- Permission to add tools to your shell environment
Clone the git-extras repository
The install method listed for this project is clone-and-build. The first step is to copy the repository to your machine with Git. The README excerpt gives this command:
git clone https://github.com/tj/git-extrasBuild and install git-extras from the clone
The README excerpt used here does not include the build or install steps. Open the cloned folder and read the README there for the exact build and install instructions for your system.
Follow those instructions as written. Because the full README was not available for this analysis, this guide does not list build commands.
- Open the cloned git-extras folder
- Find the install or build section in its README
- Follow the steps listed there
Find the commands you need
The project's own description says git-extras covers repo summaries, a REPL-style session, changelog population and author commit percentages. The full list of commands is not confirmed in this analysis, so use the command list in the full README or the help built into your installation rather than guessing names.
Once you have the exact command names, run them from inside a Git repository, since they work on the repository you are in.
- Repo summary
- REPL-style session
- Changelog population
- Author commit percentages
Get the most out of git-extras
Because git-extras is made of small scripts, it works best when you treat each command as a single task. Try one command on a test repository before using it on a project you care about.
If you want a graphical view of Git instead, or a different set of helpers, the comparable projects listed for this analysis are git-up, tig and lazygit. This analysis does not compare their features in detail.
- Test commands on a throwaway repository first
- Read the full README for the complete command list
- Compare with git-up, tig or lazygit if your needs differ
What people use it for
- Getting a quick summary of a repository you are new to
- Checking who has contributed to a project using author commit percentages
- Drafting changelog entries before a release
- Running small, scriptable Git helpers in a terminal workflow
Frequently asked questions
Is git-extras free to use?
Yes. The project is listed under the MIT licence, which is a permissive open-source licence. Check the licence file in the repository for the full terms.
What do I need to install git-extras?
The listed prerequisite is Git. The install method is clone-and-build, so you need to copy the repository and follow its build steps. The README excerpt used here is truncated, so check the full README for any other requirements.
How do I install git-extras?
Start by running git clone https://github.com/tj/git-extras. Then open the cloned folder and follow the build and install instructions in its README, which were not included in the excerpt used for this analysis.
Is git-extras written in a specific language?
Yes. The project is written in Shell, so it runs from a terminal. It is designed to sit alongside Git rather than replace it.
What are alternatives to git-extras?
The comparable projects listed for this analysis are git-up, tig and lazygit. This guide does not compare their features in detail, so read each project's documentation to choose.
Does git-extras have a graphical interface?
No. It is a command-line tool. If you prefer a graphical Git client, git-extras is not a match for that need.
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Our verdict
git-extras suits developers who already work in a terminal with Git and want small helpers for summaries, changelogs and contribution stats. Skip it if you want a graphical client, need features outside the listed utilities, or cannot add extra tools to your shell environment.
Install options & downloads