Managing Git can be messy. You’re in the middle of developing a new feature, when suddenly an urgent bug pops up. Before you finish, a code review request arrives. Traditional Git workflows can be frustrating—you either stash changes and switch branches, or awkwardly mix everything in a single commit.
Enter GitButler, a powerful Git visualization tool created by Scott Chacon, co-founder of GitHub. GitButler lets you work across multiple branches simultaneously, so you can develop new features, fix bugs, and review code—all in the same working directory.
Virtual Branches: Multi-Threaded Git Workflow
The core innovation of GitButler is virtual branches. Traditional Git branches are like parallel universes—you have to “time-travel” to switch branches. Virtual branches, on the other hand, let you apply multiple branches in a single workspace, each displayed as a vertical lane.
For example, you can create three virtual branches simultaneously:
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New feature development
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Bug fixes
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Code refactoring
All changes are visible in real time, and you can drag and drop file changes between branches. Tired of writing a feature? Quickly fix a bug and move it to another branch for commit—all without context switching. 
Drag-and-Drop Commit Management
Interactive rebasing (git rebase -i) can be intimidating—one wrong move can mess up your commit history. GitButler turns this into a drag-and-drop experience:
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Reorder commits by dragging them
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Merge commits by dropping one onto another
You can organize scattered commits across multiple branches as easily as tidying up files on your desktop.
AI-Powered Commit Messages
Writing commit messages is often a chore—“fix bug” doesn’t exactly tell the story. GitButler integrates AI to automatically generate detailed and accurate commit messages based on your code changes.
It supports AI providers such as OpenAI, Claude, and Ollama, producing messages that are more descriptive and standardized than most manually written commits.
Additional Features
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Operation History Rollback: Track every action like a time machine.
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GitHub Integration: Create pull requests directly from GitButler.
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SSH Key Management: Securely manage multiple keys.
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Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Installation
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Download the installer for your OS from the official website.
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Import your project—setup takes just a few minutes.
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To use AI features, register for a GitButler account.
Why GitButler Matters
GitButler introduces a new paradigm for Git workflows. Virtual branches are particularly appealing for developers juggling multiple tasks. While still in its early stages, the “multi-threaded Git” experience is worth trying, making version control more intuitive, visual, and efficient.
GitHub Project: https://github.com/gitbutlerapp/gitbutler
