gitviz

gitviz is an educational tool that visualizes a Git repository in real time. It renders a live graph of the objects and references that make up Git's internal data structure — blobs, trees, commits, branches, tags, and HEAD.

Key Features

• Real-time graph that updates as you run Git commands
• Shows all four object types: blobs, trees, commits, and references (branches, tags, HEAD)
• Color-coded by type for quick visual distinction
• Designed for learning — no configuration needed

Installation

Download the latest binary from releases and unzip it.

macOS only: the first time you run it, you need to remove the quarantine flag:

xattr -d com.apple.quarantine ~/Downloads/gitviz

Usage

Navigate to the root of a Git repository and run:

~/Downloads/gitviz

The graph will open automatically in your browser. Use CTRL+C to stop.

Note: if gitviz is not on your PATH, invoke it directly — e.g. ~/Downloads/gitviz. This works in bash, zsh, and PowerShell.

Tip: run git init first if you are starting from an empty directory.

Running in the background

gitviz &

To stop it later:

kill %1