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Git-Native Operations

Null Terminal treats Git not just as a version control system, but as the foundational Undo and Context layer for AI-driven development. By integrating deeply with your local repository, Null ensures that every AI interaction is trackable, reversible, and contextually aware.

Overview

The GitManager orchestrates all background Git operations. Whether the AI is refactoring code or creating new files, Null Terminal ensures these changes are staged and documented automatically.

Git-as-Undo Philosophy

We believe AI edits should never be destructive. By auto-committing AI changes, we provide a robust safety net that allows you to experiment freely and revert to known-good states instantly.

AI-Automated Version Control

Auto-Commit

When Auto-Commit is enabled, Null Terminal automatically stages and commits changes immediately after the AI writes to a file.

  1. Diff Analysis: Null analyzes the changes made by the AI.
  2. Message Generation: The AI generates a concise, descriptive commit message based on the diff content.
  3. Atomic Commit: Changes are committed, creating a distinct point in history.
  4. Visual Feedback: A CommitBlock appears in the chat with options to view the diff, revert, or amend.

You can customize auto-commit behavior in ~/.null/config.json: 

{
  "git": {
    "auto_commit": true,
    "commit_format": "conventional",
    "show_diff_on_commit": true
  }
}

Conventional Commits

Null Terminal prefers Conventional Commits (e.g., feat:, fix:, refactor:) to keep your repository history clean and professional.

Git Slash Commands

Null provides a suite of slash commands to manage your repository without leaving the terminal.

Command Description
/git status Show a summary of staged, unstaged, and untracked files.
/diff [file] View changes in a high-fidelity diff block. (Shortcut for /git diff)
/git log [n] View the last n commits (defaults to 10).
Command Description
/git commit [msg] Commit staged changes. Generates an AI message if msg is omitted.
/undo The Magic Button. Reverts the last AI commit and keeps changes staged.
/git stash Stash current changes to a dirty working directory.
/git stash pop Apply the most recently stashed changes.
Command Description
/issue [num/ls] View or list GitHub/GitLab issues.
/pr [num/ls/diff] View, list, or see diffs for Pull Requests.

Dependency

Remote operations (/issue, /pr) require the GitHub CLI (gh) or similar to be installed and authenticated on your system.

Visualizing History

Interactive Commit Blocks

When the AI commits a change, it produces an interactive block in your session:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 🔄 AI Commit: refactor(api): simplify endpoint logic        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Files changed: 2                                             │
│   M src/api/routes.py (+15, -5)                             │
│   M src/api/utils.py (+2, -1)                               │
│ ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│                              [View Diff] [Revert] [Amend]    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
  • View Diff: Opens a syntax-highlighted diff viewer.
  • Revert: Immediately performs a git reset --soft HEAD~1.
  • Amend: Allows you to update the commit message or add more changes.

Status Bar Integration

Your current Git state is always visible in the Status Bar: *  main: Clean working directory. * ± feature-branch: Dirty working directory (unstaged changes).

Workflow Example

The following diagram illustrates the typical lifecycle of an AI-assisted change in Null Terminal:

graph TD
    A[User Request] --> B[AI Generates Code]
    B --> C[File Written]
    C --> D{Auto-Commit Enabled?}
    D -- Yes --> E[AI Generates Commit Message]
    E --> F[Git Commit Created]
    F --> G[Interactive Commit Block Shown]
    D -- No --> H[Changes left in Worktree]
    G --> I{User Review}
    I -- Approve --> J[Continue Workflow]
    I -- Dislike --> K[/undo command]
    K --> L[Commit Reverted, Changes Staged]
    L --> M[Ask AI to Fix/Refine]

Configuration Reference

Detailed settings for Git operations:

Key Type Default Description
auto_commit boolean true Automatically commit AI changes.
commit_format string "conventional" Use conventional commit style.
sign_commits boolean false Enable GPG signing for AI commits.
show_diff_on_commit boolean true Automatically show diff after a commit.
allow_revert boolean true Enable the /undo command.

Configuration Example

"git": {
  "auto_commit": true,
  "commit_format": "conventional",
  "sign_commits": false,
  "show_diff_on_commit": true,
  "allow_revert": true
}