Repolode
Submit
gitkraken

gitkraken/vscode-gitlens

A VS Code extension that adds Git blame annotations, CodeLens, a Commit Graph, and tools for reviewing, rebasing, and managing branches and worktrees.

Open-source alternative to:GitHub Desktop

View on GitHubWebsite
Stars
9,951
Forks
1,816
Open issues
929
Last commit
2 hours ago

What is it?

GitLens is an extension for Visual Studio Code that brings Git history, branches, worktrees, and pull requests into the editor. Inline and status bar blame, Git CodeLens, file and line history, and revision navigation show who changed a line and when, without leaving the file.

The Commit Graph gives a single view of commits, uncommitted changes per worktree, branches, stashes, and open pull requests, with actions such as merge, rebase, cherry-pick, and push available from each row. The Interactive Rebase Editor flags likely conflicts before a rebase runs. Views for Visual History and treemaps help visualize how files and repositories change over time.

Some features, including the Commit Graph on private repositories, Pull Requests panel, Launchpad, and AI-assisted commit and review tools, require a GitKraken Pro subscription, while the core blame, hover, and history features are free and open source under the MIT license for non-plus files.

Key features

  • 01Inline and status bar Git blame with rich hover details
  • 02Commit Graph showing commits, worktree changes, branches, and stashes
  • 03Interactive Rebase Editor that warns about likely conflicts
  • 04Worktree creation, management, and change transfer
  • 05GitHub, GitLab, Jira, and other issue and pull request integrations
  • 06Git CodeLens and file or line history navigation

Use cases

  • Finding out who last changed a line and why while reading code in VS Code
  • Reviewing branch history and reorganizing commits before opening a pull request
  • Working on several branches at once using Git worktrees
  • Tracking AI coding agent sessions alongside repository changes

Quick start

  1. 1

    Install GitLens from the Extensions side bar in VS Code

  2. 2

    Sign in with a free GitKraken account (optional, needed for some features)

  3. 3

    Open the Commit Graph from the GitLens activity bar icon or the command palette

    GitLens: Show Commit Graph

Things to know

  • Several Pro features require a paid trial or subscription, and Preview features require a free GitKraken account.
  • Self-managed GitHub Enterprise and GitLab Self-Managed integrations need a Pro plan.
  • Some features are marked Experimental and are still changing.
  • The metadata does not identify a clear open-source license.

Topics

#git#vscode#vscode-extension#code-review#version-control#blame#typescript#github

FAQ

What is vscode-gitlens?
A VS Code extension that adds Git blame annotations, CodeLens, a Commit Graph, and tools for reviewing, rebasing, and managing branches and worktrees. GitLens is an extension for Visual Studio Code that brings Git history, branches, worktrees, and pull requests into the editor. Inline and status bar blame, Git CodeLens, file and line history, and revision navigation show who changed a line and when, without leaving the file.
Is vscode-gitlens free to use? What license does it have?
vscode-gitlens is open source under the Other license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is vscode-gitlens still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to vscode-gitlens was on Oct 21, 2026.
What can I use vscode-gitlens for?
Finding out who last changed a line and why while reading code in VS Code Reviewing branch history and reorganizing commits before opening a pull request Working on several branches at once using Git worktrees Tracking AI coding agent sessions alongside repository changes
How do I install vscode-gitlens?
Install GitLens from the Extensions side bar in VS Code Sign in with a free GitKraken account (optional, needed for some features) Open the Commit Graph from the GitLens activity bar icon or the command palette: GitLens: Show Commit Graph
Where can I get vscode-gitlens?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/gitkraken/vscode-gitlens

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

Related projects