About

Why HydraTree exists

Work, personal, and client accounts in the same week — often across GitHub.com and GitLab. Without a per-repo identity, a commit lands under the wrong name — then you chase .gitconfig hacks and SSH key aliases to recover.

HydraTree is a free desktop Git client where each repository remembers its own account until you change it. Sign in to GitHub.com with OAuth, connect GitLab hosts with a PAT, bind a repo once, and commit author plus push credential follow that binding. When a token expires, that account shows needs re-authentication — other accounts keep working.

The workflow stays close to GitHub Desktop: Changes, branches, history, and diffs, plus worktrees that inherit the parent repository's bound account. Built for freelancers, agency developers, maintainers, and anyone who switches identities across multiple Git hosts.

View releases on GitHub

Scope

Shipped today and on the roadmap

Public builds ship for macOS Apple Silicon · Windows x64. Installed desktop builds check GitHub Releases for updates. Windows installs the update in the app; on macOS HydraTree tells you a new version is out, and you update with Homebrew or by downloading it.

Available now

GitHub.com accounts via OAuth (optional PAT)
GitLab.com and self-hosted GitLab instances over HTTPS via PAT
Per-repo identity binding across hosts
GitHub pull requests in the desktop app
Branches, history, diffs, sync, and worktrees
HTTPS remotes authenticated with OAuth/PAT tokens
macOS Apple Silicon · Windows x64

Roadmap

GitHub Enterprise Server

Getting started

From install to a safe first workflow

01
Install the desktop app
HydraTree ships for macOS Apple Silicon and Windows x64. Grab the installer on the download page — early builds are not code-signed yet, so your OS may show a security warning.
Download for your machine
02
Connect accounts on each host
Add GitHub.com accounts via OAuth (or PAT) in Settings → Accounts (click the account avatar in the status bar to open it). For GitLab.com or a self-hosted instance on HTTPS, use Add GitLab (PAT) with the host domain and token, then label each account.
03
Add repositories and bind once
Clone from GitHub.com or GitLab, add a local folder, or create a new repo. Each repository binds to one account for commit author and push credential until you rebind it in Settings → Repository.
04
Stage, commit, and sync
Review changed files, stage what you need, write a message, and commit. Fetch, pull, and push from the toolbar when you are ready to sync.
05
Switch branches or rebind safely
Switch branches from the branch control. To change which account a repo uses, rebind it in Settings → Repository. Commit and push are blocked when the bound account is missing or needs re-authentication. Push is also blocked when the remote reports no access.

The interface

A GitHub Desktop–inspired workspace, yours to tune

Dark and light themes, custom accents, and background presets live in Settings. Preview the layout in the browser before you install — Sample-data preview only — OAuth, GitLab PAT sign-in, auto-updates, and real remotes need the installed desktop app.