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Simplifying version control: why Graphite outshines Git

Greg Foster

Graphite software engineer

Note

This guide explains this concept in vanilla Git. For Graphite documentation, see ourCLI docs.

Version control systems are the backbone of modern software development, enabling teams to track changes, collaborate efficiently, and ship code faster. For years, Git has been the default choice for version control. But as development practices evolve, simplicity and speed matter more than ever.Graphite has emerged as a modern alternative to Git workflows, designed to streamline how developers manage code changes. Let's look at why Graphite is quickly becoming the go-to solution for teams that want a more intuitive and productive version control experience.

Intuitive workflow management

Git’s learning curve is steep. Its hundreds of commands and flags can be intimidating, even for experienced engineers.Graphite reimagines workflow management with a developer-friendly interface that abstracts away Git’s complexity. Instead of juggling multiple commands, Graphite provides a streamlined experience that makes managing branches and commits effortless.

Example: With Git, you might rungit status,git branch, andgit log just to get a sense of where you are. Graphite condenses this into a singlegt status, giving you a clean overview of your branches, stacked changes, and pending tasks.

Streamlined stacked diffs

One of Graphite’s most powerful features isstacked diffs—a workflow that lets developers break down large changes into smaller, dependent pieces. While Git supports branching and merging, managing dependencies between branches can be painful.Graphite automates this process, allowing developers to create, rebase, and submit stacks without manual effort.

Example: In Git, keeping a stack of dependent branches aligned requires careful rebasing and pointer tracking. Graphite automates this withgt stack submit, which submits an entire stack in order while handling dependencies for you.

Better code reviews

Code reviews in Git often mean huge pull requests and reviewer fatigue. Graphite encouragessmaller, incremental reviews by structuring changes into stacks. This results in faster reviews, clearer context, and fewer missed issues.

Example: Instead of wading through a massive Git diff, reviewers using Graphite see neatly organized diffs viagt diff, making it easier to leave targeted feedback.

Automation and integration

Graphite doesn’t just simplify Git—it automates it. From branch management to CI/CD integration, Graphite reduces the manual overhead that comes with traditional version control. Developers spend less time typing Git commands and more time shipping features.

Example: Instead of manually updatingmain and creating a new branch in Git, Graphite’sgt branch create does it in one step, automatically starting from the latest code.

Conflict resolution made easier

Merge conflicts are inevitable in collaborative projects, but Graphite makes them less painful. By encouraging smaller diffs and incremental merges, conflicts are easier to resolve. In many cases, Graphite even automates conflict handling withgt stack fix.

Example: Where Git might force you to untangle a large merge conflict, Graphite breaks it down into smaller, isolated issues, making resolution faster and less error-prone.

Clear visibility into your codebase

Git requires a mix of commands likegit log --graph or third-party tools to visualize branch relationships.Graphite gives developersbuilt-in visibility withgt stack view, showing a clean, tree-like structure of your branches and their statuses.

Conclusion

Git is powerful but often overwhelming.Graphite brings clarity, speed, and structure to version control by simplifying workflows, automating complexity, and making code reviews faster and more effective. For modern engineering teams, Graphite is more than just a Git wrapper—it’s a developer-first approach to version control.

If your team wants to move faster, ship cleaner code, and spend less time fighting Git, it may be time to adopt Graphite as your primary workflow tool.

Frequently asked questions

What is Graphite?

Graphite is a code review platform that builds on top of Git to simplify complex development processes. It's CLI tool provides streamlined commands for managing branches, creating stacked diffs, and automating common Git operations, making version control more intuitive for development teams.

How is Graphite different from Git?

While Git is the underlying version control system, Graphite adds a layer of abstraction that simplifies common workflows. Graphite provides higher-level commands that automate complex Git operations like rebasing, merging, and managing dependent branches, reducing the cognitive load on developers.

Can I use Graphite with my existing Git repositories?

Yes, Graphite is designed to work with existing Git repositories and GitHub workflows. It doesn't replace Git but enhances it with additional tooling and automation. You can start using Graphite immediately with your current repositories without any migration process.

Is Graphite suitable for small teams?

Graphite is beneficial for teams of all sizes. Small teams particularly benefit from its simplified workflows and reduced Git complexity, while larger teams appreciate its automation features and ability to manage complex branching strategies more effectively.

Does Graphite work with GitHub?

Yes, Graphite has deep integration with GitHub, including automated pull request creation, bidirectional syncing, and seamless collaboration features. It's designed to enhance GitHub workflows rather than replace them.

What are stacked diffs?

Stacked diffs are a workflow pattern where large changes are broken down into smaller, dependent pull requests. Each diff builds on the previous one, making code reviews more manageable and reducing the complexity of large feature implementations. Graphite automates the creation and management of these stacked changes.

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