Source Tracker for VS Code

Note: This extension is currently in early development. It may not perform efficiently with large repositories or large files due to the nature of its diff processing.

Source Tracker enhances your git workflow by providing visual indicators of changes in your code, helping you track modifications since a specific git reference point.

Features

🔄 Git Change Tracking

Source Tracker allows you to visually track code changes against any git reference (branch, commit, tag) - providing more flexibility than VS Code's built-in git functionality:

• Line-level indicators show added, modified, and removed lines
• File explorer badges show new and modified files
• Flexible base ref selection - track against any branch, commit, or automatic detection
• Compatible with other git tools - uses the leftmost gutter, allowing you to see Source Tracker and built in git indicators simultaneously

📸 File Snapshot Tracking

The Snapshot feature lets you take a point-in-time capture of a file:

• Take Snapshot - Quickly bookmark a file's state for temporary change tracking
• Track Against Snapshot - Visualize and compare changes made since your snapshot
• Session Persistence - Snapshots persist across editor sessions
• Independent of Git - Works even for unsaved changes or files outside of version control

📑 Quick File Access

• Open Tracked Files - Open all files that have been modified since your tracking base
• Open Changed Files - Open all files changed since the last commit
• Diff Tracked File - Open a side-by-side diff view comparing the current file to its state in the tracking base

🎨 Customization

• Editor Indicators - Control the visibility and position of change indicators in the editor (gutter, scrollbar, or background highlighting)
• File Explorer Integration - Toggle visibility of change indicators in the file explorer
• Persistent Settings - Your configuration is remembered across workspace sessions

Usage

Setting a Tracking Base

1. Run the command SourceTracker: Git Tracking from the command palette
2. Select from the quick pick menu:
   • BRANCH - Automatically detect the branch tracking base
   • HEAD - Track changes since the current commit
   • A recent commit - Select from the list of recent commits
   • Custom reference - Type any valid git reference (branch name, commit hash, etc.)
3. You can also activate tracking quickly using:
   • The tracking icon in the file explorer title area
   • The tracking icon in the editor title bar area

Visual Indicators

After setting a tracking base, Source Tracker will display:

• Green indicators in the gutter for added lines
• Blue indicators in the gutter for modified lines
• Red indicators in the gutter for removed lines
• File badges in the explorer for added/modified files

Quick Navigation

Access all changed files quickly:

• Run SourceTracker: Open Tracked Files to open all files modified since your tracking base
• Run SourceTracker: Open Changed Files to open all files modified since your last commit

Requirements

• Git installed and accessible in your PATH
• Files must be within a git repository

Known Issues

This extension is currently in beta. Please report any issues on the GitHub repository.

Enjoy source control with enhanced tracking visibility!