mgit
mgit is a custom-built, minimal Git clone created to demystify Git internals and present them in a form that is clear, readable, and educational. Unlike the real Git implementation, which is highly optimized and complex, mgit is intentionally minimal — focusing only on the core functionalities so learners can follow the flow without getting lost in optimizations.
The project acts as both a learning tool for those interested in version control systems and a reference implementation for anyone curious about how Git stores commits, branches, and history under the hood.
🔧 Project Details
- Key Skills: C++, SQLite, Git internals
- Project Link: GitHub - mgit
🚀 Motivation
The motivation behind mgit was to bridge the gap between understanding Git commands and understanding Git’s actual mechanics. Most developers know how to use Git, but very few understand how it manages commits, histories, and branches internally. By stripping Git down to its most essential features, mgit provides a clear, approachable codebase for exploring:
- How commits are stored
- How branches are tracked
- How history is reconstructed
💡 Approach
The design philosophy of mgit revolves around clarity over completeness. Each feature is implemented in a straightforward way, avoiding unnecessary abstractions. Data is stored in a lightweight SQLite database, allowing easy inspection and modification during development.
Key implementation choices:
- Use of C++ for low-level control and performance.
- SQLite as the storage backend for commit history, metadata, and branch references.
- Minimal command set to prevent complexity creep.
- Code comments and modular structure to maximize learnability.
✨ Features
- Initialize new repositories (
mgit init). - Create commits with metadata and changes (
mgit commit). - View commit history in a clear, chronological format (
mgit log). - Create and switch branches (
mgit branch). - Lightweight, portable, and easily extensible.
“mgit aims to strip away the complexity of Git while keeping the magic intact — so you not only use Git, you understand it.”