DocGit Window Mode
Core Versioning (window)
Core Versioning (sidebar)
Branching (window)
Branching- Resolving Merge Conflicts (sidebar)
Diffs (window)
Core Versioning- Restoring Past Versions (sidebar)
Chrome extension: branching tab
Chrome extension: commit tab
Chrome extension: version diff comparison tab

DocGit

Inspiration

Google Docs is ubiquitous for writing—but its version history is passive, linear, and difficult to navigate. Writers frequently lose valuable ideas while editing, wishing they could return to meaningful checkpoints or recover deleted content more intuitively.

DocGit was inspired by this gap: what if writing had the same powerful, intentional version control as Git?

What it does

Commit Points: Save intentional checkpoints with custom commit messages
Commit History: View a structured timeline of your document’s evolution
Branching & Merging: Create, switch between, and merge different versions of your work
Diff Visualization: See precise, line-by-line changes between versions
Restore Functionality: Revert your document to any previous commit at any time

How we built it

Google Apps Script to integrate directly into the Google Docs environment
HTML + CSS + JavaScript for building an interactive sidebar UI
Claude Code + GitHub Copilot to accelerate development and implementation

We also began developing a Google Chrome Extension to expand support across multiple documents and environments.

Challenges we ran into

Choosing the right form factor:
We debated between an Apps Script integration (seamless and embedded) and a Chrome extension (more flexible and scalable). We prioritized Apps Script for usability while prototyping the extension for future growth.
OAuth and permissions (Chrome extension):
Supporting cross-document functionality required handling authentication, which introduced additional complexity.
Making version control intuitive:
Translating Git concepts like branching and diffs into a UI accessible to non-technical users required careful design and simplification.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Implementing branching and diff visualization within Google Docs
Building a system that mirrors Git workflows while remaining accessible to everyday users
Delivering a working prototype that demonstrates both technical feasibility and real-world usefulness

What we learned

How to rapidly prototype and ship using AI-assisted development tools like Claude Code
The capabilities and constraints of the Google Apps Script ecosystem
How to adapt developer-centric paradigms (like Git) into experiences for a greater user community