I’ve been working on something behind the scenes to help me be a better citizen of the coding world while developing BuddyBar.

I have some light coding skills, including a little bit of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. But tools like Claude Code have allowed me to expand far beyond what I ever thought I could create.

I’d heard of Git before and knew it was powerful, but it was most definitely built for existing developers. There were so many phrases I was unfamiliar with, like commit, push, or new branch. As someone new to the Git world, trying to learn it and use it at the same time was causing issues, especially when it came to knowing exactly when to save my work. Initially, I didn’t even know that GitHub and Git were two separate things!

So, while I was making BuddyBar, I created what eventually became BuddyShelf. It’s a Mac app that helps you learn Git terms by starting with plain English and gradually migrating you to standard Git vocabulary over time.

Instead of technical jargon, you see terms you actually understand:
Instead of commit, you see “Shelf it.” (Like putting a book on a shelf!)
Instead of create a branch, you “Try an idea.“
Instead of revert, you “Go back to this.“

BuddyShelf has a built-in “Terminology” feature. It starts with these friendly terms and slowly introduces the real Git vocabulary as you use it. After 25 uses, it starts showing you both “Shelf” and “commit” together, until eventually, it transitions to just the Git terms. As an instructional designer, I’ve found this method of “gradual release” incredibly helpful for mastering jargon, and hopefully this can help others too!

I also added two key features:

AI-Assisted Shelfs (Commits): Link your Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini API key and BuddyShelf will look at your code to help you write plain English descriptions of exactly what changed. It really helps with longer shelfs/commits!

Claude Code Skill: I built a skill that integrates directly. It matches your terminology level, suggests saving at natural stopping points, and can open BuddyShelf with a pre-written description of what you accomplished. It basically helps me save my work like a “good coder” should, which is something I often forget to do myself!

I’m opening this up for a public beta and would love to get feedback. If you’re a coder, a “vibe coder,” or a dabbler like me, click the link below to download it and give it a try!

Download the Beta: https://www.ixcreations.com/buddyshelf_app/