Grits
A Git-native, local-first issue tracker with a Twin Engine architecture:
- 🤖 Agent Engine: MCP server for AI integration (Antigravity, Claude, etc.)
- 👀 Visual Engine: VS Code extension with WASM-powered UI
Status: Production Ready (v1.2.1)
Quick Start
Prerequisites
- Rust (latest stable)
- Git
- Node.js 18+ (for VS Code extension)
Option 1: Cargo (Recommended for Rust users)
If you have Rust installed, this is the easiest way. It automatically adds gr to your PATH:
Option 2: Download Binary
Windows (PowerShell One-Liner):
iwr https://github.com/babybirdprd/grits/releases/latest/download/gr-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.exe -OutFile gr.exe; mv gr.exe $HOME/.cargo/bin/gr.exe
Manual Download:
- Download from GitHub Releases.
- Rename to
gr(orgr.exe). - Move to a folder in your PATH.
Option 3: Build from Source
If you want to contribute or use the latest main branch:
Initialize a Project
CLI Usage
Twin Engine Architecture
Grits uses a "Unified State" approach where the Human UI and the AI Agent always stay in sync.
🔗 Tethered Sync
Whenever the AI Agent (via MCP) or the Human (via UI) modifies an issue, Grits automatically:
- Auto-Imports changes from the
.grits/issues.jsonlfile into the database. - Auto-Exports database updates back to the file. This means you can move a card in the Kanban board and the Agent sees it immediately, and vice-versa.
🤖 Agent Engine (MCP Server)
Run the MCP server for AI agent integration:
⚠️ Note: The MCP server is currently untested. Full verification coming in a future release.
Available Tools:
| Category | Tools |
|---|---|
| CRUD | list_issues, create_issue, update_issue, close_issue, get_issue |
| Contextual | find_related_issues, suggest_issue_for_error, infer_issue_from_diff |
| Bulk | bulk_triage, detect_duplicates, cleanup_stale |
| Workflow | get_next_task, link_commit_to_issues, generate_issue_from_todo |
| Smart Queries | search_issues, get_issue_graph, summarize_sprint |
Antigravity Configuration (.vscode/mcp.json):
Note: The
GRITS_PROJECT_ROOTenvironment variable tells the MCP server which project to use, ensuring issues are stored in the correct location.
👀 Visual Engine (VS Code Extension)
The extension provides a rich UI for .jsonl issue files:
- List View: Virtualized spreadsheet with inline editing
- Kanban View: Drag-and-drop board by status
- Graph View: Dependency visualization
- Focus View: High-priority items only
| List View | Kanban View |
|---|---|
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| Graph View | Focus View |
|---|---|
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Install Extension:
Download grits-kanban-*.vsix from Releases and:
Or build from source:
# From the root directory
# Then press F5 in VS Code in this workspace
🔬 Solid Graph Topology
Grits includes simplicial complex analysis for code architecture, allowing you to treat code as a "solid" multidimensional structure:
# 1. Build project-wide topology cache
# 2. Detect circular dependencies using Betti numbers
# 3. Detect architectural drift (new cycles, removed edges)
# 4. Export for visualization (Graphviz/JSON)
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Project Scanning | Recursively build a unified graph of your codebase |
| Betti_0/1/2 | Detect components, circular cycles, and 2D voids |
| Feature Volumes | Find tightly coupled code clusters ($2$-simplexes) |
| Star Neighborhoods | Load precise context for AI editing sessions |
| Persistence | Cache topology in .grits/topology.json for fast diffs |
| Issue Linking | Bind symbols to issues to capture topological context |
Based on the "Solid Graph" philosophy from algebraic topology.
Project Structure
grits/
├── grits-core/ # Core library (WASM-compatible)
│ └── src/wasm.rs # WASM bridge for UI
├── grits-cli/ # CLI + MCP server
│ └── src/mcp.rs # MCP tool implementations
├── extension/ # VS Code extension
│ ├── src/ # Extension host code
│ └── webview/ # React UI
├── .vscode/mcp.json # MCP server config
└── .agent/workflows/ # Agent workflow rules
Documentation
- Architecture: Twin Engine design
- CLI Usage: Full command reference
- WASM Status: WebAssembly support
- Development: Build & test guide
Credits
Grits is inspired by Beads by Steve Yegge — "A memory upgrade for your coding agent." Thank you for pioneering the Git-native issue tracking concept for AI agents!
License
MIT



