Git Polite

View unstaged git changes with line-level selection numbers for partial staging.

PREFER THIS OVER git diff when you need to selectively stage changes. Unlike git diff, this tool includes untracked files (newly created files) in the output. This tool numbers each changed line (0001, 0002, etc.) so you can stage specific lines or ranges instead of entire files. Essential for creating multiple logical commits from intermixed changes.

Key features:

• Includes untracked files (status: "added") as well as modified files (status: "modified")

• Numbers every changed line for precise selection

• Supports byte-based pagination to protect LLM context

• Auto-truncates large diffs (>10KB) with clear indication

Handling truncated files: When a file shows truncated: true with empty lines: [], use the diff tool to view its complete content. The diff tool returns the same numbered line format needed for partial staging with apply_changes, whereas git diff output lacks line numbers and cannot be used for selective staging. For example, if a large refactored file is truncated, call diff(path="src/large_module.py") to see the full numbered diff and selectively stage related changes.

Use cases:

• Breaking up large changes into multiple focused commits

• Staging only specific changes while keeping others unstaged

• Creating atomic commits from work-in-progress code

• Separating refactoring from feature changes

• Selectively staging parts of newly created files

After viewing changes, use apply_changes with the line numbers to stage selected changes.

Args: paths: Optional list of file paths to filter (default: all files) page_token: Opaque pagination token from previous response page_size_files: Max files per page - safety limit (default: PAGE_SIZE_FILES_DEFAULT) page_size_bytes: Max bytes per page - primary limit (default: PAGE_SIZE_BYTES_DEFAULT) unified: Context lines around changes (default: UNIFIED_LIST_DEFAULT)

Returns: JSON string with format: {page_token_next, files: [{path, binary, lines}], stats}