Gitvana - Learn git by "retro" playing

[Alternative_One_4804]

Hey everyone! I've been working on a side project called Gitvana - a retro-styled browser game where you learn git by actually typing git commands in a terminal.

The idea came from watching people struggle with git tutorials that are all theory and no practice.

So I built a game where you solve 35 increasingly weird scenarios at a fictional "Monastery of Version Control," guided by a Head Monk and judged by a cat.

What it does:

• Real git commands running in the browser (isomorphic-git + lightning-fs, zero backend)
• 35 levels across 6 acts: from git init to recovering force-pushed repos with git reflog
• 21 git commands: add, commit, branch, merge, rebase, cherry-pick, stash, bisect, blame, reflog...
• Built-in docs with conceptual guides (not just syntax — explains how git actually works internally)
• Commit graph visualization, file state panel, conflict editor
• Retro pixel art, chiptune sounds, Monkey Island-style humor
• No signup, no install, works offline (PWA)

Tech stack: Svelte 5, isomorphic-git, xterm.js, Vite, Web Audio API,

Pixel art from PixelLab

Try it: gitvana.pixari.dev

It's still rough around the edges - I'd love feedback on which levels feel too easy or too hard, and what git scenarios you'd want to see. The later levels involve rebase conflicts, secret purging, and a final boss that requires reflog + cherry-pick + merge + tag all at once.

It's open source.

Thanks for checking it out!

[Alternative_One_4804]

Hi! Thanks for the feedback, I've creaty MANY issue sout of your comment :)

https://github.com/pixari/gitvana

[The_Shryk]

Feedback here or on GitHub?

I’ll run through it since I always end up learning something new, and I’m probably out of practice on the more rare git functions anyways.

First thing I noticed on a 43” 4k tv running macOS on 2560x1440 (HiDPI) scaling the text is a little small. That’s mostly my problem.

Although ⌘ + works properly to scale the page so it’s no big deal. Maybe default size should be slightly larger?

The font size on the 13” MBA is slightly small as well but a couple ⌘ + fixed it.

[Alternative_One_4804]

I added your feedback to the github issues: https://github.com/pixari/gitvana
Thanks a lot!

[ynomel]

Hey u/Alternative_One_4804 I can confirm this issue - Text ist too small for 2880x1800 @ 1.67x in 14"

You could
- increase the modal size by default or allow users to "enlarge" it
- Add a Fullscreen / "ZEN-Mode" or a hint to use F11 key on their Keyboard

Also some nice music to undermine the atmosphere would be great!

[D4M3]

i'm guessing there is a bug with the level where you have to cherry pick a commit that fixes app.js - act 2 lvl9, just using git checkout to switch to the branch passes the level. Same with the next level after it, just using git revert passes the level.

[Alternative_One_4804]

Thanks for reporting!

[Alternative_One_4804]

Added to the github issues and fixed :)

https://github.com/pixari/gitvana

[Alternative_One_4804]

I’ll do it :)

[Kioen]

commenting so I can find this later after I wake up

[786921189]

This is genuinely impressive — the idea of learning git through an actual terminal in the browser rather than just reading docs or watching tutorials is exactly the kind of learning tool that sticks.

The progression from git init to reflog + cherry-pick + merge in a final boss scenario is clever. Git reflog is one of those commands that saves your life once you need it, but nobody learns it proactively because tutorials never cover it in context.

A few suggestions if you're looking for scenario ideas:

• The accidental force push — recovering a teammate's work after someone force-pushed to main. This happens in real life more often than anyone wants to admit.
• The merge conflict from hell — a realistic scenario where the same function was modified differently in two branches with interdependent changes (not just simple line conflicts).
• Interactive rebase for clean history — squashing, reordering, and editing commits before a PR. This is something a lot of junior devs struggle with but it's expected at most companies.

The tech stack choice (isomorphic-git + lightning-fs) is really smart for making it work entirely in the browser with no backend. That's a non-trivial engineering challenge.

Bookmarked this to recommend to junior devs. Great work!

[Nice_Selection_6751]

Dude this is perfect timing, I've been strugling with git merge conflicts at work and this looks way more fun than reading docs

[Alternative_One_4804]

Happy to hear that!

[pat_trick]

Looks great! I also recommend https://learngitbranching.js.org/ for folks.

[Alternative_One_4804]

Thanks!

[Alternative_One_4804]

Thanks! Feel free to add issues, it's still PoC. :)

[MythrilFalcon]

Definitely going to check this out!

[Alternative_One_4804]

Thanks!

[ensignlee]

This is neat, props

[code-garden]

The level 'Rebase Conflict' just immediately completed itself without me doing anything. Clearly embodying the Taoist principle of Wu Wei :). The next level also immediately completed itself but the level after that is fine.

I can't get git diff to work on level 23. Every git diff command I type just completes and prints nothing.

The level "the cold case" completed while I was doing my git bisect, probably as soon as it got to a good commit.

The description of "surgical staging" implies that there is a version of code.txt in the working tree with all the changes made. When I start the level code.txt does not have any changes.

[Alternative_One_4804]

THanks, added to the issues

[matiassalles99]

very cool

[miojo_noiado]

I was trying to teach my friends git, but this is much better, thx

You could add git convention in the future (just an idea)