Branches and Commits

Branches

Branches (Ctrl+2) lists each branch with its last commit, who made it and when. View → Columns adds whether the branch is protected and how far it is ahead of and behind the default branch.

Comparing branches

Actions → Compare Branches… (Ctrl+Shift+B, in the Branches view) asks two questions, one after the other. “Step 1 of 2” asks for the base branch, the one to compare from, usually main. “Step 2 of 2” asks for the head branch to compare against it, and starts on the branch you were on in the list.

The result opens in a text window you can read line by line: how many commits the head branch is ahead and behind, the commits it adds, and the files changed with their additions and deletions. The status bar gives the short version, for example “‘feature’ is 3 ahead, 0 behind ‘main’.” Press Escape or OK to close it.

Commits

Commits (Ctrl+3) lists the commits on the default branch. Enter on a branch in the Branches view lists that branch’s commits instead, and Backspace takes you back to the branches.

To switch branch without going back, use Actions → Select Branch… (Ctrl+B), which works in the Commits view and starts on the branch you are viewing.

Each commit shows its short SHA, message, author and date; View → Columns adds how many files changed and the lines added and removed. The details panel has the full SHA, the branch, the whole message, and the files changed when GitHub reports them. Enter on a commit opens it on GitHub.