Скачать или смотреть How to Use VSCode for Advanced Git Comparisons: Ditching Conventional Methods for a Better Workflow

Learn how to efficiently view changes between git commits using VSCode, bypassing the need for traditional methods with a simplified, automated solution.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76478244/ asked by the user 'Adam Rutledge' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13555760/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76492822/ provided by the user 'Adam Rutledge' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13555760/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Introduction

If you're working with Git in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) and you're seeking a way to visualize changes between commits, you might have encountered some limitations. The source control tab in VSCode primarily allows you to view uncommitted changes, which is not always sufficient when comparing different versions of your project. This guide will walk you through how to effectively use VSCode to compare changes between git commits without having to rely on additional tools.

Problem Overview

In a desired workflow, users want to see differences not just between the current state of their files and uncommitted changes, but rather the differences between two commits directly within VSCode's user-friendly interface. The default "Timeline" feature is somewhat helpful, but if you're unaware of which files were specifically altered in previous commits, you may find it less than useful. In this post, we’ll explore a workaround to better visualize these differences without cumbersome methods.

Solution: Configuring VSCode as a Git Difftool

Instead of using the traditional methods or even attempting complex workarounds, we can configure VSCode to serve as a difftool for Git. This approach provides a streamlined way to compare commits.

Step 1: Update Your Git Configuration

First, you need to set VSCode as your default difftool. This involves editing your global Git configuration file:

Open your terminal.

Run the command:

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This will open the configuration in your default editor. Add the following lines to set up VSCode:

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Step 2: Identify the Commits to Compare

Next, you'll want to determine which commits you are interested in comparing. You can list recent commits by running:

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Note down the commit IDs of the two commits you want to examine.

Step 3: Compare Two Commits

Once you have your commit IDs:

Run the following command, replacing commit ID 1 and commit ID 2 with the actual IDs:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This will open a VSCode explorer window displaying two folders, corresponding to the selected commits. These folders will highlight only the files that have changed between the two commits.

Step 4: Analyzing Changes in Files

To dive deeper into specific files:

In the left folder (the older commit), right-click the file you wish to examine and select “Select for Compare.”

Then, go to the right folder (the newer commit) and right-click the same file. Choose “Compare with Selected.”

A new window will now display all the changes made between the two commits for that specific file.

Conclusion

By setting up VSCode as your git difftool, you can easily compare the changes between different commits in a visual and intuitive way. This method eliminates the need for complex workarounds while effectively utilizing configurations already available in Git and VSCode. So, go ahead and simplify your workflow with this streamlined approach!

Now you're ready to take control of your versioning process more effectively using VSCode. Make the most out of your coding experience by harnessing the powerful features provided within your development environment!