Git Status & Version Control
Always-visible git information in the sidebar — branch name, uncommitted changes, recent commits, and push status.
Overview
The Git Status Card sits at the bottom of the sidebar and provides a constant, at-a-glance view of your repository's state. You always know which branch you're on, how many changes are pending, and when you last committed and pushed — without running a single git command.
What the Card Shows
The Git Status Card displays four pieces of information:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Branch name | The current git branch, shown with a branch icon |
| Uncommitted changes | A yellow indicator with the count of modified, added, or deleted files |
| Last commit | Relative timestamp of the most recent commit (e.g. "5 minutes ago") |
| Last push | Relative timestamp of the most recent push to remote |
The card updates automatically — git status is polled every 5–10 seconds, and timestamps refresh every 30 seconds.
Recent Commits Popover
Click the Git Status Card to open a Recent Commits Popover showing the last 10 commits. Each commit displays:
- Commit hash (abbreviated)
- Commit message
- Author name
- Relative timestamp (e.g. "2 hours ago")
This gives you quick context about recent history without opening a terminal or external git client.
How It Helps
The Git Status Card is especially useful during AI-assisted development:
- Track Claude's changes — After Claude modifies files, the uncommitted change count updates immediately. You can see at a glance how many files were touched.
- Know when to commit — A growing uncommitted change count is a natural reminder to review and commit Claude's work before starting the next task.
- Stay branch-aware — When switching between sessions that work on different branches, the branch name confirms you're in the right place.
- Verify pushes — The "last push" timestamp confirms whether your latest commits have been pushed to the remote.
The Git Status Card only appears when your project is inside a git repository. For non-git projects, the card is hidden.
Tips
- Glance at the change count after Claude finishes a task — it tells you the scope of changes before you review them.
- Click the card to quickly check recent commit messages when you need context about what's been done.
- Watch the branch name when switching between multiple sessions — each session works in the same repository, so branch switches affect all sessions.
Related Articles
- Understanding the Three-Panel Layout — Where the Git Status Card sits in the interface
- Activity Feed — Track Claude's file operations in real-time
- Building a Feature from Scratch — Using git status as part of the development workflow