Git Action
Provides essential Git functionalities for file operations, branch management, commit history, and collaborative workflows.
Overview
Tool Name
Purpose
The git_action tool provides version control capabilities for files within Git repositories. It enables seamless file management, collaboration, and tracking of changes through Git workflows. This tool integrates essential Git functionalities for file operations, branch management, commit history, and more.
Functions Available
git_action
: Manages Git repository actions such as file operations (read, write), diff generation, branch management, commit history retrieval, and status checks.
Key Features & Functions
File Operations & Diffs
Facilitates reading, writing, generating diffs, and applying changes to files in Git.
Commit & Branch Management
Supports collaborative workflows via commits, branch creation, and switching.
History & Status Tracking
Retrieves commit logs and file statuses for auditing and debugging.
Input Parameters for Each Function
git_action
Parameters
Name | Definition | Format |
---|---|---|
action | Specifies the Git action (required). Supported values include: - list_files - read_file - write_file - generate_diff - apply_diff - commit - get_history - create_branch - switch_branch - get_branch - get_status | String (required) |
file_path | (Required for read/write/delete-type actions) Path to the file within the Git repository. | String |
content | (Required for write_file ) The content to write into the file. | String |
commit_message | (Required for commit ) Descriptive message summarizing the file changes. | String |
old_content | (Required for generate_diff ) Original file content for comparison. | String |
new_content | (Required for generate_diff ) Updated file content for comparison. | String |
diff_content | (Required for apply_diff ) The diff to apply to a file, optionally committed after. | String |
branch_name | (Required for create_branch and switch_branch ) The branch name to create or switch to. | String |
max_count | (Optional) Limits the number of history entries returned by get_history . | Integer |
Genbot Tip
Provide clear and descriptive commit_message
values to maintain a coherent commit history for future reference.
Use Cases
-
File Management
-
Use
write_file
to update configuration files or documentation in a Git repository. -
Example: Modifying a Snowflake config file, then committing with a descriptive message.
-
-
Diff Generation for Code Reviews
-
Use
generate_diff
to compare changes between two content versions prior to deployment or review. -
Example: Displaying script differences to a reviewer before merging.
-
-
Branch Management
-
Create a new branch (
create_branch
) or switch branches (switch_branch
) to isolate development efforts. -
Example: Making a branch
feature/optimize-query
for a new query optimization feature.
-
-
Logs and Auditing
-
Retrieve commit history via
get_history
or file statuses withget_status
for debugging. -
Example: Reviewing changes to a dataset ingestion script to understand modifications over time.
-
-
Collaborative Workflows
-
Write, commit, and push changes for team-based version control in code or data repositories.
-
Example: Maintaining an evolving dataset dictionary collaboratively using Git.
-
IMPORTANT: Merge conflicts can occur if multiple collaborators modify the same file. Ensure you resolve conflicts manually or via Git merges before committing final changes.
Workflow/How It Works
-
Step 1: List Files in Repository
- Invoke
list_files
to see all tracked files or specify a subpath for filtered results.
- Invoke
-
Step 2: Create or Modify Files
- Use
write_file
to add or update file contents; commit these changes with a clearcommit_message
.
- Use
-
Step 3: Generate Diffs for Review
- Compare
old_content
andnew_content
withgenerate_diff
. If approved, apply changes withapply_diff
.
- Compare
-
Step 4: Manage Branch Flow
- Create new branches (
create_branch
) or switch branches (switch_branch
) to isolate or integrate changes.
- Create new branches (
-
Step 5: Retrieve Logs & Status
- Access commit logs (
get_history
) or check current file statuses (get_status
) for pending changes.
- Access commit logs (
NOTE: Keep branch-naming conventions consistent, such as feature/
, bugfix/
, or hotfix/
to streamline repository organization.
Integration Relevance
-
Project Asset Tracking: Works with
manage_project_assets
to store and retrieve Git-based assets in project workflows. -
Testing Automation: Combine with
manage_tests_tools
to store and version test files. -
ETL & Workflow Management: Collaborates with
process_manager_tools
for configuration files and scripts under Git control.
Configuration Details
-
Ensure repository credentials and permissions are properly set to read, write, or modify files.
-
Use meaningful commit messages and branch names to maintain clarity in repository history.
-
Keep file_path references consistent with repository structure to avoid confusion or file path errors.
Limitations or Notes
-
Large Repositories
- Listing or retrieving histories in large repos might be slow—provide specific paths or use
max_count
to limit entries.
- Listing or retrieving histories in large repos might be slow—provide specific paths or use
-
Merge Conflicts
- Conflicts during
apply_diff
orwrite_file
must be resolved manually or through Git merge strategies.
- Conflicts during
-
Sensitive Content
- Avoid committing private credentials or data. Always follow best practices for secure storage of sensitive information.
Output
-
File Operations
- Confirmation messages for reads, writes, or diffs—plus any diff output or file statuses.
-
Branch & Commit Management
- Success or error messages after creating or switching branches, or committing changes.
-
Logs & Status
- Detailed commit history or repository status indicating tracked, modified, or untracked files.
How It Works
The tool interacts with the Git repository to perform file-based operations such as editing, versioning, and history tracking. It ensures changes are documented, applied, and tracked across branches effectively.
Reminder
This tool is used for locally managed repositories, external sync or hosting must be handled separately.
Example on GenesisAPI
In this example, we started by asking the Genbot to create two feature engineering scripts: ERA_calc.py for ERA calculations and runs_per_season.py for total runs, committing both to branches ERA_modeling and Runs_modeling. On ERA_modeling, the Genbot then refines the ERA logic to handle edge cases like insufficient innings pitched (<10). Each refinement was implemented using diffs, validated, and committed with clear messages to ensure traceability.
Example on Slack
In this example, while on Runs_modeling, the Genbot added functionality to calculate average runs per game and handle incomplete data.