GitScribe Status

What Is GitScribe Status?

GitScribe Status is the minimal, perfect solution for developers who just want to see their Git file status in Windows Explorer without the bloat of full Git GUI clients.

What it does:

• Shows overlay icons on files/folders (modified, added, ignored, etc.)
• Adds status to Explorer context menu ("GitScribe | Modified")
• Updates automatically when files change
• Works with any Git workflow or client

What it doesn't do:

• No commit, push, or pull operations
• No diff viewer or merge tools
• No repository management
• No configuration dialogs

Perfect for: Developers who use CLI, VS Code, or other Git tools but want visual status in Explorer

Features

🎯

Smart Overlay Icons

Clear visual indicators for file status: modified, added, deleted, ignored, untracked, and more.

✓ Folder status aggregation
✓ Submodule support
✓ Conflict detection

📋

Context Menu Integration

Right-click any file to see its Git status instantly in the context menu.

✓ "GitScribe | Clean"
✓ "GitScribe | Modified"
✓ "GitScribe | Not in repo"

⚡

Blazing Fast

Built with Rust and libgit2 for maximum performance with minimal resource usage.

✓ Async operations
✓ Smart caching
✓ 2MB memory footprint

Technical Details

System Requirements

• Windows 10 version 1903+ or Windows 11
• x64 architecture (ARM64 coming soon)
• Git installed and in PATH
• ~10MB disk space

Architecture

• Shell extension (COM) in Rust
• libgit2 for Git operations
• Windows Registry for icon overlays
• Zero external dependencies at runtime

Privacy & Security

No telemetry or data collection
No network connections
Open source and auditable
Signed installer and binaries

Installation

1

Download the installer

Get GitScribeStatus-Setup.exe from the releases page
2

Run the installer

Double-click and follow the simple installation wizard (no admin required)
3

Restart Explorer

The installer will restart Windows Explorer automatically
4

Done!

Navigate to any Git repository and see your file status instantly

Uninstall: Use Windows Settings → Apps or run the uninstaller from the Start Menu

Changelog

v0.1.0-beta December 15, 2024 BETA

Initial Beta Release 🚀

• Shell extension with overlay icons for Git file status
• Context menu integration showing repository status
• Support for all standard Git states (modified, added, deleted, ignored, etc.)
• Folder status aggregation
• Automatic refresh on file system changes
• Efficient caching system for performance

About GitScribe Releases

GitScribe Status is released independently from GitScribe Full. Each product has its own version numbering and release cycle.

All Releases on GitHub Full Changelog

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GitScribe Status really free?

Yes! GitScribe Status is completely free and will remain free forever. It's open source under the MIT license.

Does it work with all Git clients?

Yes! GitScribe Status only reads Git repository information. It works perfectly alongside Git CLI, VS Code, SourceTree, GitHub Desktop, or any other Git tool you prefer.

Why do I need to restart Explorer?

Windows Explorer needs to reload to register the shell extension. The installer handles this automatically - it takes about 2 seconds and your open windows will be restored.

What's the difference between Status and Full?

GitScribe Status is a lightweight shell extension that only shows file status. GitScribe Full (coming soon) will include a complete GUI application with commit, push, pull, branch management, and other Git operations.

Does it support Windows 7/8?

Currently, GitScribe Status requires Windows 10 (version 1903+) or Windows 11. We're exploring Windows 7/8 support based on user demand.

Beta Release