Git Simplifier
A VS Code / Cursor extension that provides a simple, elegant UI to manage Git branches locally using git worktree, enabling parallel work across multiple branches simultaneously.
Features
📂 Repository Selector
- Auto-scans your workspace for git repositories
- Pick which repo to work with from a dropdown
- Persists your selection across sessions
➕ Create New Branch (via Git Worktree)
Three branch creation modes:
- From
origin/master — Create a branch fully synced with remote master (auto-detects main vs master)
- From an existing local branch — Branch off a selected local branch
- Clone a remote branch — Clone a remote branch as-is (great for reproducing bugs at a specific version)
Each new branch gets its own worktree directory and opens in a new Cursor/VS Code window for parallel development.
🔀 Switch Branch
- See all local branches with worktree status
- Worktree branches open in a new window
- Non-worktree branches checkout in place (auto-stashes uncommitted changes)
🔄 Sync with Remote Master
- Pick any local branch to sync
- Auto-fetches + merges
origin/master (or origin/main)
- No conflicts → auto-commits, shows success
- Conflicts → opens worktree in new window for manual resolution, then use Re-sync to finalize
💾 Commit
- View changed files summary
- Stage all, pick individual files, or commit already-staged files
- Enter commit message
- After commit, optionally push right away or defer to later
🚀 Push
- Preview all unpushed commits before pushing
- Confirm before push
- Auto-creates remote tracking branch on first push (
git push -u origin <branch>)
🗑️ Remove Branch
- Multi-select branches to delete
- Automatically removes associated worktrees
- Option to also delete the remote tracking branch
- Prevents deleting the currently checked-out branch
The sidebar features a GitLens-inspired design:
- Current work item — shows active branch with change/push badges
- Branches section — create, switch, sync, remove branches
- Source Control section — commit and push with live status counts
- Local Branches list — at-a-glance view of all branches
Tech Stack
- Language: TypeScript
- Platform: VS Code / Cursor Extension API
- Git: Executed via
child_process (spawning git commands)
- UI: VS Code Webview sidebar with custom HTML/CSS
Development
Prerequisites
Setup
cd git_simplifier
npm install
npm run compile
Test locally
- Open the
git_simplifier folder in Cursor / VS Code
- Press
F5 to launch the Extension Development Host
- Or package and install manually:
npx @vscode/vsce package --no-dependencies --allow-star-activation --allow-missing-repository
Then install: Cmd+Shift+P → "Extensions: Install from VSIX"
Publishing
1. Create a Publisher Account
2. Generate a Personal Access Token (PAT)
- In Azure DevOps → User Settings → Personal Access Tokens
- Create a new token with Marketplace (Manage) scope
- Save the token securely
3. Login with vsce
npx @vscode/vsce login wzm416
# Paste your Azure DevOps PAT when prompted
4. Publish
npx @vscode/vsce publish
5. Update Version (for future releases)
npx @vscode/vsce publish minor # 0.0.1 → 0.1.0
npx @vscode/vsce publish patch # 0.0.1 → 0.0.2
The extension will be live at:
https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=wzm416.git-simplifier
License
MIT
