gitk: visually indicate whether a tag exists on a remote
- From
- Adi Shavit <adishavit@gmail.com>
- Date
- Jul 9, 2025, 08:36 UTC
- Message-ID
- <CAEWUs4gEsASB3Fog2Zc5tEfACPURjHPqaS6e2XNWj0i50O-e5Q@mail.gmail.com>
- In-Reply-To
- <CAEWUs4iWwrOw4sXT9PhdccZyWtcvTgQfHDbeavTk-2kOdjUMdA@mail.gmail.com>
Hi all,
*Problem*
When browsing history in **gitk**, I often need to know whether a tag I see on a commit was:
* fetched from a remote (and therefore shared with collaborators), or * created only in my local repository and not yet pushed.
For branches this distinction is obvious because gitk lists local and remote-tracking branch heads separately. Tags, however, are shown in a single list, so a locally added tag and one fetched from –‐say–‐ `origin` look identical. This can mislead users into thinking a tag is already published when in fact it is not.
*Proposed enhancement*
Add an opt-in visual cue that a tag also exists on at least one remote. Possible UI sketches (open for discussion):
1. **Suffix** the tag label with the remote name in parentheses, e.g.
`v1.2.3 (origin)`.
2. **Colour** or style the tag differently (similar to how remote
branches are blue vs. local green).
3. **Tool-tip**: on hover, list the remotes that advertise the tag.*Why this belongs in gitk*
gitk’s strength is that it gives an at-a-glance view of history. Making tags’ publication state equally transparent would save users a trip to the command line and reduce accidental “forgot to push the tag” issues.
Thanks for considering, and for maintaining gitk!
Best regards, Adi Shavit