Tig

Tig is an ncurses-based text-mode interface for git. It functions mainly as a Git repository browser.

When to Use

• Log Browsing: tig shows the commit graph beautifully in the terminal.
• Blame: tig blame file.txt is faster than any GUI.
• Staging: tig status allows staging files quickly.

Core Concepts

Views

• Main: Commit graph.
• Diff: View changes.
• Blame: Who changed what.

Navigation

Vim-like bindings (j, k) to scroll. Enter to drill down.

Best Practices (2025)

Do:

• Use as Pager: Set git config --global core.pager "tig" (optional, but powerful).
• Quick Blame: Use it to find who broke the build in seconds.

Don't:

• Don't use for complex writes: Lazygit is better for rebasing/ops. Tig is better for reading.

References

• Tig Documentation