gitnot is a snapshot-based changelog tool that lets you create lightweight version checkpoints of your code or notes. It tracks only what’s changed, bumps the version after each run, and logs your edits like a personal ledger — without the overhead of full version control.
gitnot is built on a simple idea: versioning doesn’t need to be complex. It’s a simplified version control system for individuals who prefer intuitive snapshots over branching and commit workflows — built for those who think in checkpoints, not merges.
The main command. Run this in any folder that has already been initialized with gitnot --init. It checks your files for changes, and if anything has been added, removed, or modified, it:
Saves a snapshot of the current state Bumps the version number Logs the changes in a human-readable changelog Think of this like a personal "commit" — but simpler and without ceremony. If nothing has changed, it does nothing.
Bootstraps the current folder to start using gitnot. This sets up a .gitnot/ directory where all version data and history will be stored. Run this once per project — before your first gitnot command.
Displays the current version of the folder you're in — simple and clean. Run it anytime you want to know which version you're working on.
When you run gitnot --init, it creates a hidden .gitnot/ folder inside your current directory. This folder contains all the versioning and change-tracking data for the project. Here's what’s inside:
| File/Folder | Purpose |
|---|---|
version.txt |
Tracks the current version number (e.g., v0.2) of the folder. |
hashes.json |
Internal tracker that stores the hash of every file to detect changes. |
changelogs/ |
A folder containing markdown files of each version's changelog. Every time you run gitnot, a new changelog is created here. |
snapshot/ |
Stores the actual full snapshot of the folder at each version (used for diffing). |
deleted/ |
A folder where deleted files are moved and versioned, so you can always retrieve removed content if needed. |
This entire .gitnot/ folder is self-contained, lightweight, and designed to be ignored by Git if you want to keep your version history personal.
You can safely add .gitnot/ to your .gitignore.
Pull requests welcome. Open an issue or suggest an idea.
under ☕️, check out the-coffee-license
I've included both licenses with the repo, do what you know is right. The licensing works by assuming you're operating under good faith.
built by Sam with ☕️&❤️