If you’ve ever pondered over the intricate history of a Git repository, finding valuable insights hidden within the code commits, look no further than Repostat. This Python3-compatible tool not only analyzes your Git repository but also generates stunning HTML reports enriched with interactive visualizations powered by nvd3. In this guide, we’ll walk through the installation, configuration, and usage of Repostat, along with troubleshooting tips to ensure a seamless experience.

Installation

The installation process for Repostat is straightforward, especially from version 2.0.0 onwards, as it is available on PyPi under the name repostat-app. Let’s dive into the steps necessary for installing Repostat on different operating systems.

1. Simple Installation

To get started with the latest version of Repostat, open your terminal and execute:

pip3 install repostat-app

2. Development Version Installation

If you wish to install a development version with the latest changes directly from Repostat’s GitHub repository, run:

sudo pip3 install git+https://github.com/vifactor/repostat

To install Repostat at a specific tag or branch:

sudo pip3 install git+https://github.com/vifactor/repostat@branch_or_tag

Note: Versions prior to v2.0.0 have additional system dependencies, such as gnuplot.

3. OS-Specific Requirements

• Linux: Ensure that python3-pip is installed in your system for a smooth installation.
• Mac OS (Catalina): Before installation, ensure the correct version of libgit2 is present in your system. Follow the pygit2 installation instructions or install via Homebrew:

brew update
brew install libgit2

• Windows: Ensure that Python v3.6+ is included in your system path, then run:

python -m pip install repostat-app

Note: In Windows 10+, symlink to general.html may not be generated if launched by an unprivileged user.

Usage

Once installed, using Repostat for analyzing a Git repository is simple:

repostat [--help] [--version] [--config_file CONFIG_FILE_PATH] git_repository_path report_output_path

Run repostat --help for a detailed description of available commands and options.

Configuration File

Repostat allows you to customize your report using a JSON settings file. To do so, use the following command:

repostat --config-file path_to_config.json repo_path out_path

The configuration file could contain various optional fields for customization.

Configuration Fields Explained

• max_domains: Set the number of email domains to show in author stats.
• max_authors: Specify how many authors to display in the top authors table.
• colormap: Choose the color scheme for visualizations (e.g., classic, plasma, viridis).
• time_sampling: Control how time series data is sampled (default is weekly).
• max_recent_tags: Limit the number of tags displayed in the report.

Analogy for Understanding Usage

Imagine you are the head chef at a restaurant, and your Git repository is your kitchen filled with numerous ingredients (commits) and recipes (branches). Repostat acts as your sous-chef, meticulously analyzing all the ingredients and helping you create a beautifully presented menu (HTML report) that visualizes your culinary masterpieces (project metrics). Just as you can customize your menu based on customer preferences, you can configure Repostat’s report according to the metrics and data that matter most to you.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during installation or while running Repostat, here are some common troubleshooting tips:

• Ensure you have Python 3.6 or above installed on your machine.
• Verify that all required dependencies are correctly installed, especially if you’re running older versions.
• Check whether you have the correct permissions, especially on Windows when creating symlinks.
• If you run into configuration errors, double-check your JSON settings file for formatting issues.

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Conclusion

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.