Automate Git Commands with AI Agents in Your Terminal

What you’ll get

You’ll learn to use AI coding agents directly in your computer’s terminal to automate common Git commands. Instead of manually typing complex Git commands or searching online, these agents understand natural language requests like “commit my changes” and execute the correct Git actions for you. This approach saves time and reduces errors, especially for repetitive or complex Git tasks.

Tools you need

• Forge Code (paid): An AI “pair programmer” that understands your code and Git history to automate Git commands, requiring a paid LLM API.
• Aider (paid): A Python-based AI “pair programmer” CLI that integrates with Git, auto-commits changes, and lets you chat about Git tasks, requiring a paid LLM API.
• Claude Code (paid): An AI coding agent from Anthropic that lives in your terminal, automates Git tasks, and can edit files and create commits.
• Gemini CLI (freemium): A command-line interface for Google’s Gemini AI models, which can be used to generate Git commands or explanations, offering a free tier for its API.
• Node.js (free): A software platform that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser, needed to install Forge Code and Claude Code.
• Python (free): A popular programming language, needed to install Aider.
• Git (free): A version control system that tracks changes in computer files and coordinates work among multiple people.
• Terminal (free): A text-based interface for interacting with your computer’s operating system (e.g., Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows, Terminal on macOS/Linux).

Steps

1. Install Node.js (for Forge Code and Claude Code): If you don’t have Node.js installed, download and install it from the official Node.js website. This will also install npm (Node Package Manager).
   • Expected: Node.js and npm will be available in your terminal. You can check by typing node -v and npm -v.
2. Install Python (for Aider): If you don’t have Python installed, download and install it from the official Python website. This will also install pip (Python’s package installer).
   • Expected: Python and pip will be available in your terminal. You can check by typing python --version and pip --version.
3. Install Git: If you don’t have Git installed, download and install it from the official Git website.
   • Expected: Git commands will work in your terminal. You can check by typing git --version.
4. Open your project folder in the Terminal: Navigate to the folder of your software project where you use Git. Replace /path/to/your/project with the actual path to your project folder.

   # macOS or Linux
   cd /path/to/your/project
   
   # Windows (PowerShell)
   Set-Location -Path "C:\path\to\your\project"

   • Expected: Your terminal’s current directory will be your project folder, and you should see the folder name in your terminal prompt.

Using Forge Code

5. Install and launch Forge Code: Run this command in your project’s terminal. Forge Code will launch in interactive mode.

   # macOS or Linux
   npx forgecode@latest
   
   # Windows (PowerShell)
   npx forgecode@latest

   • Expected: Forge Code will start an interactive session. If you encounter issues, refer to the Forge Code documentation online.
6. Ask Forge Code a Git question: Type your request in natural language within the Forge Code session.

   commit my changes with a descriptive message

   • Expected: Forge Code will generate and execute the appropriate Git command, then show you the result, such as a new commit being created.

Using Aider

7. Install Aider: Run this command in your terminal.

   python -m pip install aider-install

   • Expected: Aider will be installed. You should see messages indicating successful installation.
8. Launch Aider: Navigate to your project directory (if not already there) and launch Aider. You will need to replace model and key with your chosen LLM provider (e.g., openai/gpt-4o) and your corresponding API key.

   # macOS or Linux
   aider --model model --api-key key
   
   # Windows (PowerShell)
   aider --model model --api-key key

   • Expected: Aider will scan your codebase and start an interactive chat session in your terminal.
9. Chat with Aider about Git: Type your request in the Aider session.

   show me the Git diff

   • Expected: Aider will execute the git diff command and display the changes in your terminal.

Using Claude Code

10. Install Claude Code: Run this command in your terminal.

    npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code

    • Expected: Claude Code will be installed globally on your system. You should see messages indicating successful installation.
11. Launch Claude Code: Navigate to your project directory (if not already there) and launch Claude Code.

    # macOS or Linux
    claude
    
    # Windows (PowerShell)
    claude

    • Expected: Claude Code will start its interactive REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop) in your terminal.
12. Prompt Claude Code for Git actions: Type your request in natural language within the Claude Code session.

    show me the last 5 commits

    • Expected: Claude Code will perform the git log command and display the last 5 commits from your repository.

Original source

This workflow is inspired by a blog post titled ‘These 5 AI Coding Agents Made Me Stop Googling #Git Commands!’ by pankaj_singh_1022ee93e755, published on the DEV Community platform.

Notes & variations

• Free-tier alternatives: The Gemini CLI offers a free tier for its API, making it a good option to start without immediate costs. For other agents like Forge Code, Aider, and Claude Code, you will need to provide an API key for a large language model (LLM) like OpenAI’s GPT or Anthropic’s Claude, which typically incur costs after a small free trial.
• Common mistake: Forgetting to navigate to your project directory before launching the AI agent. Always use cd /path/to/your/project (or Set-Location on Windows) first, otherwise the agent won’t have the correct context of your Git repository.
• Tip for better results: Be specific with your prompts. Instead of “fix this,” try “fix the merge conflict in src/main.js by accepting the incoming changes.” The more context you give, the better the agent can assist.