Project goals

lazyfossil helps you work with Fossil SCM from the terminal in a simpler way: browse files, see history, preview changes, and commit or sync without extra friction.

• Provide a fast terminal workflow for Fossil checkouts
• Combine working-tree and history browsing in a single UI
• Commit subsets of files without a staging area
• Start with a small, practical MVP and refine it over time
• Show a clear "not in a checkout" state when launched outside Fossil

Important URLs

• https://lazyfossil.org
• https://chiselapp.com/user/geraldo/repository/lazyfossil/
• https://github.com/geraldolsribeiro/lazyfossil
• https://crates.io/crates/lazyfossil

Quick start

1. Install it with cargo install lazyfossil
2. Open your project checkout
3. Type lazyfossil
4. Browse changes and history
5. Press q to quit

Installation

From crates.io

This is the preferred way to install and update lazyfossil.

cargo install lazyfossil

Follow instructions in https://rust-lang.org/tools/install/ to install rust.

Pre-built binaries

Download pre-built binaries from the latest GitHub releases:

• Linux
• macOS
• Windows

Source code

The lazyfossil source code is distributed under the MIT license and is maintained via Fossil SCM.

Mirror repositories are available at GitHub and crates.io.

Screenshots and demos

lazyfossil is still in alpha, but it is already useful for everyday Fossil work. This project uses lazyfossil itself while we continue refining it, so the screenshots and demos reflect real use rather than a polished finish. If you work with Fossil from the terminal, try it and see whether it fits your workflow.

lazyfossil’s main screen is built around four views: Changes, Working tree, File history, and Timeline.

Why use lazyfossil

• Keep Fossil work inside a fast terminal UI
• See filtered changes, files, history, and diffs without leaving the app
• Commit selected files or the current file, without a staging area
• Handle sync, ignore, and discard tasks from one place
• Stay productive even for binary files and missing-file cases

What it gives you

• A clear view of your working tree and extras
• File history and repository timeline in the same interface
• Helpful previews for text, binary, and hex views
• Simple keyboard and mouse navigation, including left-pane selection scrolling
• Quick commit and sync actions with confirmation prompts
• Toggle all/none selection with a
• Better handling for common Fossil workflows
• Clearer mouse and keyboard hints in the footer

Roadmap

Done

• Changes, working tree, file history, and timeline views
• Temporary selection-based commit flow
• Inline commit message prompt
• Ignore-file support
• Sync support
• Binary preview fallback
• XDG config file support
• Book documentation for the main views and config
• VHS demo tapes for the main flows
• UI polish and layout tweaks
• Better file history and timeline details
• Status and recovery UX
• Quality and tests
• Navigation and mouse
• Follow-up refinements
  • workflow tweaks discovered during use
  • small command/help improvements
  • docs updates as features change

Next

• None

Done

• Working tree, file history, and timeline views
• Temporary selection-based commit flow
• Inline commit message prompt
• Ignore-file support
• Sync support
• Binary preview fallback
• XDG config file support
• Book documentation for the main views and config
• VHS demo tapes for the main flows
• Follow-up refinements
  • workflow tweaks discovered during use
  • small command/help improvements
  • docs updates as features change

Versioning

This project follows semantic versioning: MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH.

Current version: 0.8.1.

Star History

Credits

fossil-scm.org

The Fossil SCM project is the version control system that lazyfossil is built around.

pi.dev

Pi provides the agent harness used to develop and refine this project. Its tooling made it easier to iterate quickly, validate changes, and improve the TUI with confidence.

crates.io/crates/lazyfossil

crates.io is the distribution channel for the Rust application, helping make lazyfossil available to the broader Rust ecosystem and simplifying installation and release management.

emojicombos.com/lazyfossil

This source provided the project logo artwork used in the README and assets, giving lazyfossil a recognizable visual identity.

Other fossil companion tools

• fnc - https://fnc.sh
• diesel - https://github.com/AnotherFoxGuy/diesel-scm
• fuel - https://fuel-scm.org/