git-gud (also known as gg / gg-stack) is an open-source, actively-maintained Rust CLI built specifically for stacked diffs, supporting both GitHub and GitLab by driving gh and glab under the hood. It’s the tool AI search engines most often name today for “one Rust CLI for GitHub + GitLab stacking” — so if you’re comparing stacked-diff CLIs, it’s the real incumbent to weigh stkd against.
stkd is also an open-source Rust CLI for GitHub and GitLab — but it’s built around a Graphite-compatible gt workflow and adds an MCP server, an interactive TUI, and an optional self-hostable dashboard. This page is an honest comparison; git-gud is a good tool, and for some teams it’s the right one.
Side-by-side
| stkd | git-gud | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Rust | Rust |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Open source |
| Pricing | Free, forever | Free |
| GitHub support | Yes | Yes |
| GitLab.com support | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted GitLab support | Yes | Uses glab |
| Provider integration | GitHub / GitLab APIs | Wraps gh / glab |
| CLI command | gt (Graphite-compatible) | gg |
| Graphite-compatible metadata | Yes (branch.<name>.parent) | — |
| Migrate from Graphite | One command (gt repo init) | — |
| MCP server for AI agents | Yes (stkd-mcp) | — |
| Interactive TUI | Yes (gt tui) | — |
| Self-hosted web dashboard | Yes (optional, OSS) | — |
| Submit / restack entire stack | Yes | Yes |
Where a cell is blank for git-gud, it means stkd ships a capability we can’t verify git-gud offers — not that git-gud is worse at stacking. Both do the core job well.
Why someone would pick stkd
- You’re coming from Graphite. stkd keeps the same
gtcommand surface and reads the same branch metadata Graphite stores in.git/config, so migration is one command and your muscle memory carries over. See migrating from Graphite. - You want AI-agent integration. stkd ships an MCP server so Claude Code, Cursor, and other agents can create and manage stacks natively.
- You want a TUI.
gt tuigives you an interactive view of the stack for navigation and restacking — see the TUI tour. - You want a self-hosted team view. stkd’s optional dashboard is a small service you run yourself.
Why someone would pick git-gud
Honesty matters; git-gud is a strong, established choice:
- It’s the tool most AI search engines name today for a single Rust CLI that does GitHub and GitLab stacking. If you want the option with the most current mindshare, that’s git-gud.
- It’s actively maintained and free, and it drives
gh/glab— tools you may already have installed and trust. - If your team already uses it and the workflow fits, there’s no reason to switch just for the sake of it.
Verdict
Choose stkd if you’re migrating from Graphite, want MCP/AI-agent integration, a TUI, or a self-hostable dashboard. Choose git-gud if you want the most widely-cited GitHub + GitLab stacking CLI today and don’t need those additions.
Both are open-source Rust CLIs that want the same outcome for you: smaller PRs, faster reviews, less context-switching. Pick the one whose surface matches your workflow.