gitsome

gitsome is a free command-line tool for developers and system administrators who work with Git and GitHub. Its GitHub commands can run in any shell, while an optional xonsh shell adds completion and interactive assistance.

It is a focused choice for terminal-based GitHub work, but its documented Python support stops at 3.7 and its latest PyPI release dates to 2019. Those constraints make it a less comfortable choice for a new setup than its free price might suggest.

Overview

The main advantage is choice: use gitsome’s 29 GitHub-integrated commands with your existing shell, or opt into xonsh for a broader shell experience. That keeps adoption practical for users who want GitHub features without changing their routine. The xonsh option is better suited to people who welcome interactive guidance and Python in the shell, rather than those seeking only a conventional terminal.

GitHub Enterprise support extends its appeal to teams using an Enterprise instance. However, gitsome’s documented Python versions—3.4 through 3.7—are a significant constraint for current environments. The latest PyPI release is version 0.8.4, uploaded April 7, 2019, so users who need a recently released tool should look elsewhere.

Key features

In the optional shell, autocomplete and interactive help cover Git commands and options, branches, tags, Git-Extras, and GitHub commands. Completion also extends to shell commands, files, directories, environment variables, man pages, and Python. Fish-style suggestions and a Python REPL can make exploratory command-line work more approachable; users who want only GitHub commands can avoid adopting that shell.

Command history is stored in ~/.xonsh_history.json, and ANSI highlighting can be customized through ~/.gitsomeconfig. These settings give users control over a few aspects of the shell experience, though gitsome is not a terminal emulator with features such as split panes or session sync.

GitHub and GitHub Enterprise integration can require a username, password, two-factor authentication token, personal access token, news feed URL, or Enterprise URL. Sensitive information is encrypted in transit to GitHub using SSL, and collected information is used only to interact with GitHub or GitHub Enterprise—not disclosed or transferred to outside parties for other purposes. Avatars in gh me and gh user require PIL or Pillow; on Windows those commands show text-only avatars because img2txt does not support ANSI avatars there.

Installation is through PyPI with pip3 or through a Docker container. The project is provided under the Apache License, Version 2.0, and welcomes contributions and issue reports.

Pricing

gitsome is free: its open-source CLI plan costs nothing. There is no paid tier to unlock a broader feature set, making it a low-cost option for individual terminal users. Its trade-off is not a subscription cap but the narrow Python version range and old release date, which may rule it out for environments that need newer support.

Platforms

The project supports macOS, Linux/Unix, and Windows. It was tested on OS X 10.10, Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, and Windows 10, so users on other or newer releases should confirm compatibility with their setup. The Windows text-only avatar limitation is specific and does not remove the GitHub commands themselves.

Who it's for

gitsome is best for developers and system administrators who regularly use GitHub from a terminal, especially those who value shell completion, interactive help, or GitHub Enterprise integration. It is also a reasonable fit for users who want to add GitHub commands while keeping their current shell. It is a poor fit for anyone requiring Python 2.x, Python beyond 3.7, or a recently released project.

Pros and cons

• Pro: 29 GitHub commands work across shells, so users can get the integration without switching to xonsh.
• Pro: The optional shell combines Git and GitHub help with broader shell completion, suggestions, and a Python REPL.
• Pro: GitHub Enterprise support makes it relevant beyond personal GitHub accounts.
• Con: Documented support is limited to Python 3.4–3.7, excluding Python 2.x and newer Python versions.
• Con: Version 0.8.4 was uploaded in April 2019, making it a dated choice for users prioritizing recent releases.
• Con: Windows users get text-only avatars in two GitHub commands, and avatar display requires an optional image dependency.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of terminal software, start with Terminal Emulators. Choose Termalin instead if you want a freemium terminal across desktop, web, and mobile platforms with SSH and SFTP, an encrypted local vault, session recording and replay, and a watch grid. Contour is another free option for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Warp is worth considering if you want a freemium terminal with core terminal features and Warp Agent CLI access. For a free, open-source terminal application, consider Konsole. Tabby is a free FOSS alternative, while Alacritty is an open-source terminal emulator for BSD, Linux, macOS, and Windows. Hyper and WezTerm are also free terminal options.

Verdict

Choose gitsome if you want GitHub commands in your shell and value the optional xonsh completion, help, and Python features—especially with GitHub Enterprise. Its free, open-source CLI is a clear advantage. Look elsewhere if your setup needs Python newer than 3.7 or you prefer software with a more recent release.