fossil-ui
Git to Fossil export
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill automates the process of converting Git repositories into Fossil databases and immediately launching a web-based UI for exploration. It streamlines the transition between version control systems by handling complex fast-export workflows, environment checks, and local server setup, allowing developers to visualize project timelines and history through Fossil's integrated web interface.
Use Cases
- Scenario 1: Migrating a project from Git to Fossil to take advantage of Fossil's built-in wiki, ticketing, and single-file database architecture.
- Scenario 2: Visualizing complex Git commit histories using Fossil's intuitive and interactive web-based timeline view for better project auditing.
- Scenario 3: Generating a portable, self-contained archive of a repository's entire history in a single Fossil file for easy sharing or long-term offline storage.
| name | fossil-ui |
|---|---|
| description | | |
| context | fork |
Fossil UI
Export current git repository to Fossil database and launch web UI for browsing.
Workflow
1. Verify Prerequisites
which fossil && fossil version
If fossil not installed:
# macOS
brew install fossil
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install fossil
2. Generate Database Path
Store in temp directory with project-based naming:
/tmp/fossil-ui/<project-dirname>.fossil
Example: /Users/choi/.claude -> /tmp/fossil-ui/claude.fossil
mkdir -p /tmp/fossil-ui
3. Clean Existing Database
Remove existing database before creating new one (ephemeral usage):
rm -f /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil
4. Export and Import
git fast-export --all | fossil import --git /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil
5. Launch Fossil UI
fossil ui --page timeline /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil
If port 8080 is in use:
fossil ui --page timeline -P 8081 /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil
Browser opens automatically to timeline view. Press Ctrl+C to stop the server.
Notes
- Fossil admin password is displayed during import (save for UI admin access)
- Database is self-contained single file
- Verify import:
fossil info -R /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil - Temp files are cleaned on system reboot