Gitalist is a Git web interface written in Perl using the Catalyst framework. It aims to provide feature parity with gitweb.cgi while having an easier to extend codebase that better represents modern Perl. The project started by wrapping gitweb.cgi but has evolved over several steps to implement all actions using an object-oriented model without reliance on gitweb.pm. Future work includes adding more tests, improving configurability, and enhancing the interface.

1. Gitalist
Because gitweb.cgi isn’t a great advertisement for Perl
Zachary Stevens
<zts@cryptocracy.com>

2. In the beginning...

3. gitweb.cgi
• By Kay Sievers and
Christian Gierke
• included with core git
• written in perl

4. gitweb.cgi - good
• well-commented
• sane design
• meets implementation constraints

5. gitweb.cgi - bad
• utilitarian interface
• implementation contraints
• == unfun to modify
• == restricted to core perl
• poor foundation for extensions

6. Gitalist
• Started by Dan Brook
(broquaint)
• Transitional project
• Catalyst
• Moose

7. Gitalist - Goals
• Feature parity
• URI compatibility
• Easy to extend
• Better representative of modern Perl

8. The Evolutionary Process

9. Gitalist - Step 1
• Adds Catalyst and TT
• Wrapped gitweb
• “World’s thinnest controller”

10. No, Really

11. Gitalist - Step 2
• Adds Moose and rafl’s gitweb
• First real Catalyst actions
• project index
• header and footer

12. Gitalist - Step 3
• OO Model
• All actions implemented
• No more gitweb.pm!

13. Achievements
• First production release on CPAN
• URI compatibility
• Feature complete
• Useful tests

14. Required Work
• Finding bugs
• Fixing bugs
• More tests
• Improve configurability

15. The Future

16. JSON

17. Caching

18. Interface
Enhancements
•Blame + history navigation
•Rendered markdown/pod/etc
•Improved activity summary

19. ...to suggest features

20. ...or send
patches!

21. Thanks
• Kay Sievers and Christian Gierke
• rafl
• Dan Brook (broquaint)
• Tomas Doran (t0m)
• Venda (www.venda.com)

22. Gitalist
• http://github.com/broquaint/Gitalist
• http://search.cpan.org/dist/Gitalist
• #gitalist on irc.perl.org

23. Installing from Git
$ git clone git://git.shadowcat.co.uk/catagits/
Gitalist.git
$ cd Gitalist
$ perl Makefile.PL && make installdeps
$ ./script/gitalist_server.pl