LitGit

LitGit is a lightweight Git implementation in Python that provides insights into version control system internals. This project implements core Git functionality while maintaining a clean, readable codebase that demonstrates version control concepts.

Overview

LitGit provides a complete implementation of fundamental version control operations, offering both high-level commands for daily use and low-level access to internal operations. The project focuses on performance, reliability, and maintainability while adhering to Git's core design principles.

Features

Core Functionality

• Repository initialization and management
• File tracking and staging
• Commit creation and management
• Status monitoring and history viewing
• Object inspection and manipulation
• Tree visualization and traversal
• Reference and tag management
• Revision parsing and control
• Gitignore pattern handling

Command Reference

litgit init          # Initialize repository
litgit add          # Stage files
litgit commit       # Create commit
litgit status       # Show working tree status
litgit log          # Display commit history
litgit cat-file     # Provide content of repository objects
litgit hash-object  # Compute object ID
litgit ls-tree      # List tree contents
litgit checkout     # Switch branches or restore files
litgit show-ref     # List references
litgit tag          # Create, list, or verify tags
litgit rev-parse    # Parse revisions
litgit ls-files     # Show staged files
litgit check-ignore # Check pathnames against ignore rules
litgit rm           # Remove files

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• pip package manager

Setup

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/your-username/litgit.git
cd litgit

2. Install in development mode:

pip install -e .

3. Verify installation:

litgit --help

Technical Documentation

Internal Architecture

Object Model

The system implements four fundamental object types:

• Blobs: File content storage
• Trees: Directory structure representation
• Commits: History and snapshot management
• Tags: Reference marking

Storage System

• Content-addressable storage using SHA-1/SHA-256
• Loose and packed object formats
• Delta compression for storage optimization
• Garbage collection for maintenance

Reference Management

• Branch implementation and handling
• Reference logging and tracking
• Tag support (lightweight and annotated)
• Reference directory organization

Index Operations

• Staging area management
• Path and mode handling
• Index file format implementation
• Stage inspection capabilities

Core Algorithms

• Three-way merge implementation
• Myers diff algorithm integration
• Conflict resolution system
• Path filtering and matching

Network Layer

• Protocol support (HTTPS, SSH, Git)
• Push/pull operation handling
• Pack transfer optimization
• Smart protocol implementation

Development Roadmap

Version 1.0

• Complete branching and merging system
• Remote repository support
• Advanced operation implementation
• Storage optimization
• Performance improvements
• Enhanced user interface

Version 2.0

• Extended network capabilities
• Advanced security features
• Performance optimization tools
• Extended API support
• Plugin system implementation

System Requirements

Supported Platforms

• Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)
• macOS
• Windows (via WSL or native Python)

Dependencies

• Python 3.10+
• Standard library dependencies
• Optional: development tools listed in requirements-dev.txt

Contributing

Development Setup

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Implement changes
4. Submit pull request

Guidelines

• Follow PEP 8 style guidelines
• Maintain comprehensive documentation
• Include test coverage
• Update API documentation

Project Structure

litgit/
├── src/
│   ├── commands/    # Command implementations
│   ├── core/        # Core functionality
│   └── utils/       # Utility functions
├── tests/           # Test suite
├── docs/            # Documentation
└── examples/        # Usage examples

Testing

# Run test suite
python -m pytest

# Run with coverage
python -m pytest --cov=litgit

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• Module import errors: Verify installation with pip list | grep litgit
• Command not found: Check PATH configuration
• Permission issues: Verify file permissions

Platform-Specific

Windows

• Use WSL for optimal experience
• Verify Python PATH configuration
• Check line ending settings

API Documentation

Comprehensive API documentation is available in the /docs directory:

• API Reference
• Implementation Details
• Integration Guide
• Development Setup

License

MIT License. See LICENSE file for details.

Support

• Issues: GitHub issue tracker
• Email: support@litgit-example.com

Acknowledgments

• Git project for architectural inspiration
• Python community for development tools
• Project contributors

---

LitGit: A Lightweight Git Implementation