FoldGit: A Native, Lightweight macOS Git Client for Repositories and Worktrees

FoldGit is an independently developed, native, lightweight Git client designed for macOS, built to handle repositories, worktrees, diff reviews, and code commits within a single streamlined interface. Developed by dufu as an open-source project under the MIT License, the application is written using SwiftUI and AppKit without relying on Electron.

Core Features and Architecture

• Repository Management: Keeps all repositories accessible in a sidebar. Folders can be imported as groups, or custom groups can aggregate repositories from different locations without altering disk storage.
• First-Class Worktrees: Automatically discovers linked worktrees, displaying them under their parent repository with branch names. Users can create, move, lock, remove, prune, and merge worktrees using a finish function.
• Review and Commit Tools: Offers a commit graph for current or all branches, unified and side-by-side diffs with automatic width switching, hunk staging, amending, reverting, templates, and snippets.
• Views and Navigation: Includes Commit View and Directory View with syntax highlighting, native menus, menu bar controls, and background-indexed fast search supporting CJK input methods.
• Everyday Utilities: Supports push, pull, stash, auto-fetch (download only), editor or terminal integration, light and dark appearances, and eight interface languages.

System Requirements and Installation

According to the official documentation, FoldGit requires an Apple Silicon Mac running macOS 26 or later, along with Git.

• Standard Installation: Download the latest `FoldGit-macOS-arm64.dmg` from the GitHub Releases page and drag the app into the Applications folder.
• Unnotarized Build Notice: Because initial installations of unnotarized builds may be blocked by macOS with warnings that the app is damaged or unverified, users must independently verify the download's integrity before running terminal permissions commands to proceed.
• Homebrew Option: Users can update via Homebrew using `brew update` followed by `brew upgrade --cask dufu1991/tap/foldgit`.
• Windows Experimental Build: A minimal Windows client built with C#, WinUI 3, and .NET 10 (requiring Windows 11 24H2 or later on x64 and ARM64) is also available in the repository as a community contribution effort, though the author notes they lack a Windows machine for polishing.

Verification and Verification Steps

To ensure proper configuration and security, users and contributors can verify the application through several documented steps:

• Check the official GitHub repository at `dufu1991/foldgit` for release assets and source code.
• Review open-source licenses within the app under Settings or in `Shared/Resources/Licenses/LICENSE.txt`.
• Build locally using Swift 6.2 or later with Git on PATH, executing project files located in `Platforms/macOS/FoldGit.xcodeproj`.

FoldGit is provided as-is under the MIT License, relying on third-party libraries such as Sparkle for updates, HighlightSwift, and Swift Subprocess.