I know most people reading this article are developers of Linux or Linux enthusiasts and do not need any introduction to Git. But for beginners, Git is one of the most popular and widely used version control systems available for software development and other similar kinds of work. Git is a tool that can be managed and used through the command line, and it is one of the easy-to-use command-line version control tools available for Linux developers and users.
With most developers nowadays using graphical tools for programming and development, there is no surprise they are also seeking GUI tools which could prove to be efficient alternatives to the Git command line tool. There are many Git GUI clients available for Linux and its distros like Ubuntu which offer most of the features of the Git command line tool with more efficiency and reliability.
So today, we’re going to look at the best 10 Git GUI clients, which you can install on Ubuntu and use as a version control tool for software development.
1. SmartGit
SmartGit is a cross-platform graphical Git client with seamless support for SVN, GitHub, and Bitbucket. Besides Windows and macOS, SmartGit can easily be used on Linux and its distros like Ubuntu. The good thing about SmartGit is it includes everything you need in one single package, which contains graphical merge, commit history, Git-Flow, SSH-Client, file compare, and file merge.
During the testing, I tried it for the first time, and I have to admit that it didn’t take me long to get used to it thanks to its simple and easy-to-use user interface.
SmartGit is a highly customizable graphical Git client with valuable options, such as set preferences for merging and rebasing, layout control, a built-in Conflict Solver tool, keyboard shortcuts, toolbars, and syntax coloring. You can choose between pair of light and dark themes.
Software developers will find this Git client very useful because it focuses on the difficulties faced by developers and tries to make the workflow as simple as possible for developers.
2. Git Cola
Written in Python, Git Cola is a free but powerful graphical Git client for Ubuntu and other Linux distros. It is one of the best and fast version control tools available for software developers. It is a simple but powerful client with features like clone, merge, push, pull, and many other useful features.
Git Cola is also a cross-platform graphical client for Git, which supports Windows, macOS, Linux, and its popular distros, such as Ubuntu and LinuxMint. It is an open-source GUI client for Git and a highly customizable Git client out there. I have tried a few tweaks during testing, and it has responded as expected.
You can customize its window settings, language settings, and many other features to enhance the work experience and make it hassle-free.
3. Sublime Merge
Sublime Merge is a Git GUI client with a great user interface that is modern and extremely easy to use. With great syntax highlighting engine and a custom high-performance Git reading library makes it one of the absolute best Git clients and sets the bar high for performance.
While coding, you can seamlessly transition between the command line and Sublime Merge. The find-as-you-type search feature is one of the best, which offers a powerful search. If you have used Sublime Text for coding, then using Sublime Merge will be like icing on the cake.
4. GitEye
GitEye from CollabNet is an easy-to-use Git GUI client that comes bundled with some useful tools which help you improve development productivity. It offers push-button cloning for repositories of GitHub, CloudForge, and TeamForge.
GitEye offers seamless integration with other popular tools, such as Bugzilla, Jira, Hudson, Jenkins, and many others. GitEye has a clean and very powerful graphical user interface, which is very easy to use, with everything placed perfectly so that the user finds whatever he needs efficiently.
It comes bundled with an integrated issue tracker client that works both online and offline. Also, it is equipped with Gerrit Code Review that provides notifications if there is any change or update in code. Overall, it is an all-rounder package, and many developers find this Git client very useful.
5. GitKraken
GitKraken is another graphical Git client which is powerful and reliable, and it supports both Git and GitHub to work with. GitKraken ships with a very modern-looking user interface, which is eye-catching and easy to navigate. I recommend GitKraken to developers who engage daily in tedious development workflow because it offers valuable features that make this task relatively easier and hassle-free.
Some notable features in GitKraken are a built-in code editor, split view, syntax highlighting, and file minimap. It also offers seamless integration with popular Git hosting services, such as GitHub, GitLab, and BitBucket. If you opt for GitKraken Pro, then you can connect GitHub Enterprise, GitLab Self-Hosted, BitBucket Server, and Azure DevOps.
Compared to other Git clients, GitKraken has a fast and reliable workflow. Well, that is what I noticed from all the Git clients in this article.
6. Cycligent
Cycligent is a graphical user interface (GUI) based cross-platform Git client. Along with Linux and its distributions like Ubuntu, Cycligent is also available for Windows and macOS. It is a feature-rich Git client which comes with an excellent user interface.
This client lets you master and manages all your active repositories and their release status in a simple visual format. You can configure this client to match your workflow needs, making it stand out in the list.
7. GitForce
GitForce is another cross-platform visual front-end to Git command line tool that works on Windows and Linux and its distros like Ubuntu. It is a very simple, easy-to-use, potent, and reliable version control tool for Ubuntu.
Written in C# and .NET 3.5 framework, the main objective of GitForce is to provide a simple and easy-to-use graphical front-end to perform the most common operations and software development tasks. Despite limited features, you can still rely on GitForce to perform a task than getting engaged in the Git command line tool.
Its features offer drag and drop, support for multiple repositories, scan local repositories easily, and many basic features.
8. Gitg
Gitg is a GNOME front-end for the Git command line and a default graphical Git client on the GNOME desktop environment. It offers many features, such as staging, commit, open repository, and clone repository. It also enables GNOME shell integration which opens the way for various app integrations and features for GNOME desktop users.
GNOME’s simple design doesn’t restrict Gitg from offering full-fledged features, as it is one of the best Git GUI clients listed here. At first, I found its user interface quite confusing, but once I got used to it, it was a very satisfying experience.
9. GitAhead
Git ahead is another GUI-based client for various platforms such as Linux, Windows, and macOS. It comes with a fast and beautiful-looking user interface which is extremely easy to use. It helps you understand and manage your source code history efficiently.
It is an open-source Git client with features like premium quality clients. It is a great Git client, but you need to consider that it is no longer under active development, so you will no longer get major features updated.
10. Giggle
Developed in 2007 as a part of hackathon, Giggle is a free and easy-to-use Git GUI client which works exclusively on Linux and its various popular distributions. It is a simple front-end tool that allows developers to browse and view their repositories in graphical interface.
It offers all the basic features you can expect in Git clients, such as stag, commit, browse, and many more. The user interface is simple, and you will get used to it quickly.
11. Aurees
Aurees is a free, fast, and easy-to-use graphical user interface-based Git client. It is a cross-platform client available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It comes with a neat and clean user interface which is extremely easy to use and understand.
Features like syntax highlighting and a powerful editable differentiator make it one of the best clients for Git. But this Git GUI client only comes with support till Ubuntu 18.04. In later versions, it might not fully support.
12. UnGit
UnGit is not an application or client, but it runs as a website in any web browser installed on your computer. It offers a simple but very useful graphical user interface to replace the Git command line tool. Its integration support for various plugins enhances its workflow and performance.
UnGit can also be installed as a plugin in popular text editors, such as Atom and Sublime Text.
13. Magit
Magit is a graphical interface for the version control tool Git command line. It doesn’t offer a separate interface but is implemented as a GNU Emacs package instead. It is not up to the ranks of various graphical Git clients listed here, but it allows software developers to perform almost all the version control tasks within the Emacs window.
Despite being a plugin, it offers features you can expect in a separate application, such as visualization, smooth workflow, and rebasing. It is a platform independent plugin and can be integrated with Emacs installed on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
14. Egit
Similar to Magit, Egit is a graphical Git version control plugin for Eclipse. It is implemented on the top JGit Java Implementation of Git. It is a simple but handy and reliable Git tool that offers all the essential features to accomplish almost all software development version control tasks.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the best 14 Git GUI clients that you can use in 2022. With their respective functions and benefits, users can easily choose the best Git GUI clients according to their needs.
