I'm working on a plugin for a FOSS note-taking app that will highlight recently changed notes. I want to implement a local repository that tracks changes and diffs since the last month, but I don't have much time to dedicate to this. I'm curious if there's a simpler option than Git that has a straightforward Python API for getting started quickly. It doesn't need to be user-facing, just a solid backend solution. Any recommendations, especially for embedded version control use cases?
5 Answers
Instead of using Git, why not just keep a changelog file to display the changes? You can update it as needed during each release!
You could also consider using Mercurial since it's mostly written in Python. Just grab the parts you require.
Does Mercurial have a reliable Python API? I remember facing issues with plugins breaking upon upgrades in the past. I'm a bit wary about maintenance.
Honestly, for getting started quickly, Git is likely your best bet. You can make commits in the background and use tags as changes are reviewed. Everything you need is pretty much built-in!
Why not just use Git? You can always switch to something else if it doesn't work out for you. Just think of it as a way to save versions without needing to dive into all its features; using just the main branch could work for your needs.
Exactly! Think of commits as your versioned save button. You don't have to worry about branches if you're the only contributor.
Plus, with Git you can use tags! It's a neat way to mark versions, which could work well for your plugin.
If you mainly need to store versions and display diffs, Git might actually be overkill. You could utilize Python's built-in sqlite for version storage and difflib for comparing changes. That way, you keep things simple without all the Git features.
Once you start wanting to sync across multiple devices, things can get tricky. Git without branching simplifies it but provides a good balance for backups and control.
It's a note-taking app, so users make updates all the time! They'd want to see a detailed history of which notes were changed last month, kinda like Revision History on Wikipedia. If opting for Git, I'd suggest looking into APIs like GitPython for straightforward use.