history-git-diff.nvim

A simple Neovim plugin that provides a convenient API over git's native diff functionality for viewing file history.

This is a hobby project for personal use - NOT production-ready!

• Experimental: Built for fun and personal workflow optimization
• Limited testing: Only tested on macOS with basic git repositories
• No warranty: Use at your own risk
• Performance: May be slow on files with extensive history

Feel free to use, modify, or learn from it, but don't expect production quality!

This plugin is essentially a convenient wrapper around git's native diff functionality. It provides a simple interface to:

• Browse git commit history for the current file
• Select any commit to diff against
• View the differences in Neovim's built-in diff mode

Think of it as running git log <file> and git show <commit>:<file> with a nice UI wrapper.

The plugin provides a floating popup window to browse and select commits from your file's history:

Once you select a commit, the plugin opens Neovim's native diff mode to compare the current file with the historical version:

If you're looking for more feature-rich git integration, consider these excellent alternatives:

• gitsigns.nvim - Comprehensive git decorations and hunk management with :Gitsigns diffthis <revision>
• diffview.nvim - Advanced diff viewer with file history browser (:DiffviewFileHistory)
• vim-fugitive - The definitive git plugin for Vim/Neovim with :Glog and :0Gclog
• neogit - Magit clone for Neovim with comprehensive git interface
• vim-gitgutter - Git diff markers in sign column with preview capabilities

These plugins offer more features, better performance, and are actively maintained by the community.

• View git commit history for the current file
• Interactive popup window with commit selection
• Diff current file (including unsaved changes) against any historical version
• Terminal color scheme support (cterm colors)
• Configurable pane layout
• Simple and focused - does one thing

• Neovim >= 0.7.0
• Git installed and accessible in PATH
• File must be in a git repository and tracked by git

{
  'morass/history-git-diff.nvim',
  config = function()
    require('history-git-diff').setup({
      -- Configuration options (see below)
    })
  end,
}

Plug 'morass/history-git-diff.nvim'

Then in your init.vim:

lua require('history-git-diff').setup()

use {
  'morass/history-git-diff.nvim',
  config = function()
    require('history-git-diff').setup()
  end
}

Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/morass/history-git-diff.nvim ~/.local/share/nvim/site/pack/plugins/start/history-git-diff.nvim

Then setup in lua:

require('history-git-diff').setup()

require('history-git-diff').setup({
  swap_panes = false,  -- Set to true to swap pane positions
})

If you prefer to configure from Vimscript (e.g., in your init.vim):

" Set configuration before calling setup
let g:history_git_diff_config = {'swap_panes': v:true}

" Then call setup
lua require('history-git-diff').setup(vim.g.history_git_diff_config)

Or inline:

" Swap panes directly in setup call
lua require('history-git-diff').setup({ swap_panes = true })

• swap_panes (boolean, default: false)
  • false: Current file on LEFT (editable), Historical version on RIGHT (read-only)
  • true: Historical version on LEFT (read-only), Current file on RIGHT (editable)

1. Open any file that's tracked by git
2. Run :DiffHistory command
3. Navigate commits with j/k
4. Press Enter to view diff with selected commit
5. Press ESC or q to cancel

• j / k - Navigate through commits
• Enter - Open diff view with selected commit
• ESC / q - Close popup and cancel

The diff view opens in a new tab with:

• Default layout (swap_panes = false):
  • Left pane: Current file (editable, includes unsaved changes)
  • Right pane: Historical version (read-only)
• Swapped layout (swap_panes = true):
  • Left pane: Historical version (read-only)
  • Right pane: Current file (editable, includes unsaved changes)

Close the tab when done to return to your work.

Under the hood, this plugin simply:

1. Runs git log to get commit history for current file
2. Shows commits in a floating window
3. When selected, runs git show <commit>:<file> to get historical version
4. Opens Neovim's diff mode to compare versions

It's essentially a UI wrapper around basic git commands.

• Only shows commits from current branch (by design)
• Limited to 100 most recent commits
• Requires file to be tracked by git
• No support for renamed/moved files history
• Simple terminal colors only (no fancy theming)

Uses terminal colors (cterm) for consistency:

• Blue: Commit hashes
• Gray: Help text and dates
• Red: Cancel option
• White: Commit messages

"Not in a git repository": Make sure you're in a git repo (git status should work)

"File is not tracked by git": The file needs to be added to git (git add <file>)

No commits found: The file might be newly added with no commit history yet

Colors look wrong: The plugin uses terminal colors - appearance depends on your terminal theme

Do whatever you want with it. No warranties, no support, just a fun little tool.

Remember: This is a hobby project. It might break, it might have bugs, but it gets the job done (usually).