Fossil UI

Fossil UI

Export current git repository to Fossil database and launch web UI for browsing.

Workflow

1. Verify Prerequisites

which fossil && fossil version

If fossil not installed:

# macOS
brew install fossil

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get install fossil

2. Generate Database Path

Store in temp directory with project-based naming:

/tmp/fossil-ui/<project-dirname>.fossil

Example: /Users/choi/.claude -> /tmp/fossil-ui/claude.fossil

mkdir -p /tmp/fossil-ui

3. Clean Existing Database

Remove existing database before creating new one (ephemeral usage):

rm -f /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil

4. Export and Import

git fast-export --all | fossil import --git /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil

5. Launch Fossil UI

fossil ui --page timeline /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil

If port 8080 is in use:

fossil ui --page timeline -P 8081 /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil

Browser opens automatically to timeline view. Press Ctrl+C to stop the server.

Notes

• Fossil admin password is displayed during import (save for UI admin access)
• Database is self-contained single file
• Verify import: fossil info -R /tmp/fossil-ui/<name>.fossil
• Temp files are cleaned on system reboot