gui-tools

# Git GUI Tools

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.

## Overview

This skill helps you:

- Choose the right Git GUI tool for your workflow
- Install popular Git GUI clients on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Configure GUI tools properly
- Understand licensing and subscription requirements
- Troubleshoot common configuration issues

**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.

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when:

- Installing Git GUI clients for the first time
- Choosing between GitKraken, Sourcetree, GitHub Desktop, or other tools
- Configuring GUI tools after installation
- Troubleshooting GUI tool configuration (Sourcetree gitignore, etc.)
- Understanding licensing requirements for commercial GUI tools
- Looking for platform-specific GUI recommendations

## First Use: Detection and Setup

Before installing new GUI tools, check what's already installed on your system.

**Check for existing GUI tools:**

```bash
# 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.**

## Quick Start