git-lines

name	git-lines
description	Stages specific lines from git diffs when hunk-level staging is too coarse. Use when a file contains multiple unrelated changes that need separate semantic commits, split commits, partial staging, or cherry-picking specific lines. Requires git-lines tool on PATH.

Line-Level Git Staging

Requirements

The git-lines tool must be installed and on PATH:

git-lines --version    # verify installation

Important: Use normal git for viewing changes, staging whole files, and committing. Only use git-lines for the specific task of staging individual lines.

Workflow

git diff                        # review changes (normal git)
↓ decide: "need to split this file"
git lines diff config.rs        # get line numbers
git lines stage config.rs:10    # stage first change
git commit -m "feat: first change"
git lines stage config.rs:25    # stage second change
git commit -m "fix: second change"

Commands

Can be invoked as git-lines or git lines (if on PATH).

View line numbers (only when you intend to stage):

git lines diff              # all changed files
git lines diff file.rs      # specific file

Example output:

file.rs:
  +10:	  new_function();

  -25:	  old_code();
  +26:	  replacement_code();

  +40:	  another_addition();

Stage specific lines:

git lines stage file.rs:10         # single addition
git lines stage file.rs:-25        # single deletion
git lines stage file.rs:-25,26     # replacement (delete old, add new)
git lines stage file.rs:10..20     # range of additions
git lines stage file.rs:10,15,-20  # multiple (mixed)
git lines stage a.rs:5 b.rs:10     # multiple files
git lines stage -q file.rs:10      # quiet mode (no output)

After staging, shows what was staged:

Staged:
file.rs:
  -25:	  old_code();
  +25:	  replacement_code();

Use --quiet / -q to suppress this output.

Line Numbers Stay Stable

Line numbers always refer to working tree positions, which don't change until you edit the file. You can run multiple git lines stage commands using line numbers from the same initial git lines diff output.