Jujutsu (jj): The Git-Compatible Version Control Tool That Might Actually Fix Git's Worst Problems [2026]

Jujutsu (jj) is a Rust-based, Git-compatible version control tool created by Martin von Zweigbergk at Google that works on top of existing Git repositories without requiring teammates to switch. Its most notable design decision is eliminating Git's staging area entirely, instead treating the working directory as the current commit and allowing users to split commits after the fact with `jj split`. With over 27,000 GitHub stars, it represents the first credible attempt at improving Git's painful workflows—especially complex history rewrites—while maintaining full compatibility with Git infrastructure, GitHub, and CI systems.