---
title: "Getting started"
description: "What GitLane is, what it needs, and what to try first."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.gitlane.space/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting started

GitLane is a visual git client for macOS, Windows, and Linux. It shows your
repository as a swimlane commit tree, lets you drag one branch onto another to
merge or rebase it, stages changes down to the single line, resolves merge
conflicts in-app, and reviews pull requests on GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
without leaving the window.

![The GitLane swimlane commit graph](/screenshots/hero-graph.png)

## The two ideas worth knowing up front

**Your real git does the writing.** Every commit, merge, rebase, push, and
stash runs through the `git` binary already on your `PATH`. Your hooks,
credential helpers, commit signing, and `.gitconfig` all apply exactly as they
do in a terminal. Reads go through libgit2 instead, for speed.

**The view is always live.** A filesystem watcher keeps the app in sync when
you commit, check out, or stage from a terminal. There is no refresh button
because there is nothing to refresh.

- **Install** — Pick a package for your platform and get past the first-launch warning.
[Install →](/getting-started/install)
- **Requirements** — What GitLane needs on your `PATH`, and what unlocks the optional features.
[Requirements →](/getting-started/requirements)
- **First run** — Open a repo, read the graph, and make your first commit.
[First run →](/getting-started/first-run)

## Free software

GitLane is released under **GPL-3.0-or-later**. You may use, study, modify,
and redistribute it; distributed derivatives must stay under the GPL with
complete source. The GitLane name and logo may be protected as trademarks —
the GPL grants copyright permissions, not trademark rights.

Source: https://docs.gitlane.space/getting-started/index.mdx