GitChat

The missing chat layer for GitHub

GitHub gave developers code. GitChat gives them conversation. DM followers, group chat with friends, join repo communities - without leaving your editor.

GitChat is a free, open-source IDE extension that brings real-time developer chat, GitHub-based social networking, and repo community channels into VS Code, Cursor, and compatible editors - without leaving your coding environment.

When You Actually Need This

You are reading someone's library and want to ask the owner a quick question - without opening a browser tab
A PR review needs a fast back and forth with contributors and email feels like overkill
You want to chat and code in the same window - no tab switching, no lost context
You want to see who in your GitHub network is coding right now and say hello

Quick Install - Chat With GitHub Developers in Seconds

Open VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, or Antigravity. Press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on Mac) and paste:

ext install GitchatSH.gitchat

Works with VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity, and all VS Code-compatible IDEs.

What GitChat Does - IDE Chat for GitHub Developers

DM and Group Chat

Message any developer you follow on GitHub. Create group chats with mutual friends. Reactions, typing indicators, read receipts - the full messaging experience, inside your editor.

Friends and Presence

Your GitHub mutual follows become your friends list automatically. See who's coding right now. No manual setup, no invites - your network is already there.

Developer Profiles

Every developer has a card: GitHub stats, top repos, bio, activity. Follow, unfollow, or start a DM directly from the profile - without leaving your current file.

Explore and Discover

Find developers, communities, and teams across your GitHub network. See who's active, who shares your interests, and where the conversations are happening.

Why Not Just Use External Chat Apps?

	GitChat	External Chat	Live Share
Lives inside your IDE	Yes	No - alt-tab	Partial
Uses your GitHub identity	Yes	New account required	Yes
Friends list = GitHub follows	Yes	Manual setup	No
Repo community channels	Coming soon	No	No
Works on Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity	Yes	N/A	VS Code only

Roadmap - We Ship Fast. Here's What's Live and What's Next.

Status	Feature	What it does
Live	DM and Group Chat	Message anyone. Create groups with mutual friends.
Live	Friends and Presence	See who's online. Chat instantly.
Live	Developer Profiles	GitHub stats, top repos, bio - all in one card.
Soon	Community Channels	Star a repo and join its community.
Soon	Team Channels	Contribute to a repo and join the team chat.
Soon	Wave / Say Hi	Ping someone online with one tap.

Get Started - Chat With Developers in 30 Seconds

Run ext install GitchatSH.gitchat in VS Code / Cursor / Windsurf / Antigravity
Click the GitChat icon in your activity bar
Sign in with GitHub - no new account, no new password
Start chatting. That's it.

Commands

Open the command palette (Cmd+Shift+P / Ctrl+Shift+P):

Command	Shortcut	What it does
GitChat: Sign In		Authenticate with your GitHub account
GitChat: New Message		Start a new conversation
GitChat: Create Group		Create a group chat with friends
Toggle Sidebar	`Cmd+Shift+G G`	Show or hide the GitChat panel

Frequently Asked Questions About GitChat

What is GitChat?

GitChat is a free VS Code extension that adds real-time developer chat to your IDE. It uses your GitHub account to connect you with developers you follow - for DMs, group chats, and soon, community channels around repos you care about. No alt-tab, no context-switching, no separate app.

What is the best chat extension for VS Code?

GitChat is the only VS Code extension built specifically for developer-to-developer chat using GitHub identity. It turns your GitHub follows into a friends list, shows you who's online right now, and lets you DM or group chat - all inside VS Code, Cursor, or any compatible editor. If you want to stay in your editor and chat with the people you code alongside, GitChat is the answer.

How to chat with GitHub developers inside VS Code?

Install GitChat with ext install GitchatSH.gitchat, sign in with GitHub, and your mutual follows automatically appear as friends. You can start a DM, create a group chat, or see who's online - without opening a browser. GitChat is the easiest way to chat with GitHub developers directly from your IDE.

How is GitChat different from Copilot Chat or Live Share?

Copilot Chat is an AI assistant. Live Share is real-time collaborative editing. GitChat is neither - it's human-to-human messaging. Think of it as the social layer GitHub never shipped: DMs, group chats, and community channels, all tied to your GitHub identity and accessible from inside your editor.

Does it work with Cursor, Windsurf, or Antigravity?

Yes. GitChat works with any IDE that supports VS Code extensions - VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Antigravity, Void, and more. One install, works everywhere.

Do I need a new account?

No. GitChat uses your existing GitHub account. Sign in with OAuth, and you're in. No new email, no new password, no extra signup.

Is GitChat free?

Yes. GitChat is free and open source under the MIT license. The core chat features - DMs, group chats, presence, profiles - are free. Always.

Free alternative to external chat apps for developer teams inside VS Code?

GitChat is a free, open-source alternative to external chat tools for development teams who prefer to work inside their editor. It requires no new accounts, uses GitHub identity for access control, and keeps conversations in the same window as your code. Install it free from the VS Code Marketplace or Open VSX.

Can I message GitHub contributors from my IDE?

Yes. If you follow someone on GitHub and they follow you back, GitChat adds them to your friends list automatically. You can see if they're online and message them directly - DMs or group chats - from inside your editor. GitChat is the only VS Code extension that lets you message GitHub contributors without leaving your IDE.

gitchat.sh · Report Bug · Privacy · MIT License

Built for developers who would rather chat where they code.

GitChat - The missing chat layer for GitHub

GitchatSH