The fix was verified by actually simulating Windows CP1252 stdout (io.TextIOWrapper(..., encoding='cp1252', errors='strict')).. runs clean.

Windows uses CP1252 encoding by default for stdout.. it can't print emoji. Every emoji in every print() and string in git_data.py and cli.py crashes on Windows.

fix all of them plus add PYTHONIOENCODING to CI as a safety net.

What's new vs previous version
✅ Renamed to git-diff, command is git-diff
✅ 3 themes: 🌙 Dark · ☀️ Light · ⚫ AMOLED (persisted in localStorage)
✅ Compare any two refs — branch/branch, SHA/SHA, tag/tag, any mix
✅ Blame view — full git blame with commit hash + author + date per line
✅ File history — commits that touched a file
✅ Activity heatmap — GitHub-calendar style (last 90 days)
✅ Language stats — color bar chart by file extension
✅ Merge commit detection + parent navigation
✅ Keyboard shortcuts (Esc, Ctrl+R, Ctrl+K, Ctrl+\)
✅ Full REST API with 15 endpoint

Author: ankit-chaubey

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ jobs:
         os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
         python-version: ["3.8", "3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12"]
 
+    # Force UTF-8 stdout on ALL platforms — critical for Windows (CP1252 default)
+    env:
+      PYTHONIOENCODING: utf-8
+      PYTHONUTF8: 1
+
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
@@ -24,58 +29,26 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
 
+      - name: Upgrade pip (silently)
+        run: python -m pip install --upgrade pip --quiet
+
       - name: Install package (editable)
         run: pip install -e .
 
-      - name: Smoke test — import
+      - name: Smoke test - import
         run: python -c "import git_diff; print('Version:', git_diff.__version__)"
 
-      - name: Smoke test — CLI version
+      - name: Smoke test - CLI version
         run: git-diff --version
 
-      - name: Smoke test — CLI help
+      - name: Smoke test - CLI help
         run: git-diff --help
 
-      - name: Functional test — git data collection
-        run: |
-          python -c "
-          from git_diff.git_data import get_repo_root, collect_all_data, parse_diff
-          root = get_repo_root('.')
-          print('Root:', root)
-
-          # Test parse_diff
-          sample = '''diff --git a/hello.py b/hello.py
-          index abc..def 100644
-          --- a/hello.py
-          +++ b/hello.py
-          @@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
-           def hello():
-          -    print('hello')
-          +    print('hello world')
-          +    return True
-           '''.replace('          ', '')
-          result = parse_diff(sample)
-          assert result['total_files'] == 1
-          assert result['total_additions'] == 2
-          assert result['total_deletions'] == 1
-          print('parse_diff: OK')
+      - name: Functional test - git data collection
+        run: python -c "from git_diff.git_data import get_repo_root, collect_all_data, parse_diff; root = get_repo_root('.'); print('Root:', root); result = parse_diff('diff --git a/f.py b/f.py\nindex a..b 100644\n--- a/f.py\n+++ b/f.py\n@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@\n line1\n-old\n+new1\n+new2\n'); assert result['total_files']==1; assert result['total_additions']==2; assert result['total_deletions']==1; print('parse_diff: OK'); data = collect_all_data(root); assert 'repo' in data; print('Repo:', data['repo']['name']); print('Commits:', len(data['commits'])); print('Files:', len(data['file_tree'])); print('All tests passed!')"
 
-          # Collect full data from this repo
-          data = collect_all_data(root)
-          assert 'repo' in data
-          assert 'commits' in data
-          print('Repo:', data['repo']['name'])
-          print('Commits:', len(data['commits']))
-          print('Files:', len(data['file_tree']))
-          print('All tests passed!')
-          "
+      - name: Functional test - server imports
+        run: python -c "from git_diff.server import find_free_port, GitDiffHandler; port = find_free_port(); print('Free port:', port); assert 7433 <= port <= 7500; print('Server imports: OK')"
 
-      - name: Test server imports
-        run: |
-          python -c "
-          from git_diff.server import find_free_port, GitDiffHandler
-          port = find_free_port()
-          print('Free port found:', port)
-          assert 7433 <= port <= 7500
-          print('Server imports: OK')
-          "
+      - name: Functional test - diff edge cases
+        run: python -c "from git_diff.git_data import parse_diff; r=parse_diff(''); assert r['total_files']==0; r=parse_diff('diff --git a/n.py b/n.py\nnew file mode 100644\nindex 0000000..abc\n--- /dev/null\n+++ b/n.py\n@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@\n+a\n+b\n'); assert r['files'][0]['is_new']==True; assert r['total_additions']==2; print('Edge cases OK')"

git_diff/__init__.py

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-"""git-diff — Beautiful git viewer in your browser. Like GitHub, but local."""
+"""git-diff -- Beautiful git viewer in your browser. Like GitHub, but local."""
 
 __version__ = "0.1.0"
 __author__ = "Ankit Chaubey"

git_diff/cli.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-cli.py — Command-line interface for git-diff.
+cli.py - Command-line interface for git-diff.
 """
 import argparse
 import os
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 def main():
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         prog="git-diff",
-        description="Beautiful git diff viewer in your browser — like GitHub, but local.",
+        description="Beautiful git diff viewer in your browser -- like GitHub, but local.",
         formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter,
         epilog="""
 Examples:
@@ -61,18 +61,18 @@ def main():
         repo_path = args.path or os.getcwd()
         repo_root = get_repo_root(repo_path)
     except RuntimeError as e:
-        print(f"  ❌  Error: {e}\n", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  ERROR: {e}\n", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
     repo_name = os.path.basename(repo_root)
-    print(f"  📂  Repository: {repo_name}  ({repo_root})\n")
+    print(f"  Repo: {repo_name}  ({repo_root})\n")
 
     try:
-        print("  🔄  Collecting repository data...")
+        print("  Collecting repository data...")
         data = collect_all_data(repo_root)
-        print(f"\n  ✅  Ready! {data['repo']['total_commits']} commits · {len(data['file_tree'])} files · {len(data['repo']['contributors'])} contributors\n")
+        print(f"\n  Ready! {data['repo']['total_commits']} commits, {len(data['file_tree'])} files, {len(data['repo']['contributors'])} contributors\n")
     except Exception as e:
-        print(f"  ❌  Failed to collect git data: {e}\n", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(f"  FAILED: Could not collect git data: {e}\n", file=sys.stderr)
         sys.exit(1)
 
     start_server(repo_root, data, port=args.port, no_browser=args.no_browser, host=args.host)

git_diff/git_data.py

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """
-git_data.py — Comprehensive git repository data collection for git-diff.
+git_data.py -- Comprehensive git repository data collection for git-diff.
 Collects everything: commits, diffs, branches, tags, stashes, stats, blame, log graphs.
 """
 import subprocess
@@ -717,34 +717,34 @@ def get_all_refs(repo_root):
 
 def collect_all_data(repo_root):
     """Collect all repository data for initial page load."""
-    print("  📦 Collecting repository metadata...")
+    print("  [1/10] Collecting repository metadata...")
     repo_info = get_repo_info(repo_root)
 
-    print("  📋 Collecting commit history (up to 500)...")
+    print("  [2/10] Collecting commit history (up to 500)...")
     commits = get_commit_history(repo_root, limit=500)
 
-    print("  🔍 Collecting working tree status...")
+    print("  [3/10] Collecting working tree status...")
     status = get_status(repo_root)
 
-    print("  📝 Collecting staged diff...")
+    print("  [4/10] Collecting staged diff...")
     staged_diff = get_staged_diff(repo_root)
 
-    print("  ✏️  Collecting unstaged diff...")
+    print("  [5/10] Collecting unstaged diff...")
     unstaged_diff = get_unstaged_diff(repo_root)
 
-    print("  🌿 Collecting file tree...")
+    print("  [6/10] Collecting file tree...")
     file_tree = get_file_tree(repo_root)
 
-    print("  📦 Collecting stashes...")
+    print("  [7/10] Collecting stashes...")
     stashes = get_stashes(repo_root)
 
-    print("  📊 Collecting commit stats (90 days)...")
+    print("  [8/10] Collecting commit stats (90 days)...")
     commit_stats = get_commit_stats_by_day(repo_root, days=90)
 
-    print("  🔤 Collecting language stats...")
+    print("  [9/10] Collecting language stats...")
     lang_stats = get_language_stats(repo_root)
 
-    print("  🔖 Collecting all refs...")
+    print("  [10/10] Collecting all refs...")
     all_refs = get_all_refs(repo_root)
 
     return {

git_diff/server.py

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """
-server.py — Lightweight HTTP server and REST API for git-diff.
-No external dependencies — pure Python stdlib only.
+server.py -- Lightweight HTTP server and REST API for git-diff.
+No external dependencies -- pure Python stdlib only.
 """
 import json
 import os
@@ -90,18 +90,18 @@ def pi(key, default=0):
     def _route(self, path, p, pi):
         root = self.repo_root
 
-        # ── Serve the SPA ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Serve the SPA ----------------------------------------------
         if path in ("/", "/index.html"):
             html = TEMPLATE_PATH.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
             self.send_html(html)
             return
 
-        # ── Initial bundle ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Initial bundle ---------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/data":
             self.send_json(self.initial_data)
             return
 
-        # ── Commit detail + diff ───────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Commit detail + diff ---------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/commit":
             h = p("hash")
             if not h:
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json({"diff": diff, "detail": detail})
             return
 
-        # ── Paginated commit history ───────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Paginated commit history -----------------------------------
         if path == "/api/commits":
             branch = p("branch", "HEAD")
             limit = pi("limit", 100)
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json({"commits": commits[offset:offset + limit], "total": len(commits)})
             return
 
-        # ── Range diff: branch-to-branch or SHA-to-SHA ────────────────
+        # -- Range diff: branch-to-branch or SHA-to-SHA ----------------
         if path == "/api/range-diff":
             base = p("base")
             compare = p("compare")
@@ -150,26 +150,26 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json({"diff": diff, "commits": range_commits, "base": base, "compare": compare})
             return
 
-        # ── Staged diff ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Staged diff -----------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/staged":
             ctx = pi("context", 3)
             self.send_json(get_staged_diff(root, context=ctx))
             return
 
-        # ── Unstaged diff ─────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Unstaged diff ---------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/unstaged":
             ctx = pi("context", 3)
             self.send_json(get_unstaged_diff(root, context=ctx))
             return
 
-        # ── Stash diff ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Stash diff ------------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/stash":
             ref = p("ref", "stash@{0}")
             ctx = pi("context", 3)
             self.send_json({"diff": get_stash_diff(root, ref, context=ctx)})
             return
 
-        # ── File content at ref ───────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- File content at ref ---------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/file":
             fp = p("path")
             ref = p("ref", "HEAD")
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json(get_file_content(root, fp, ref))
             return
 
-        # ── File commit history ───────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- File commit history ---------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/file-log":
             fp = p("path")
             limit = pi("limit", 50)
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json({"commits": get_file_log(root, fp, limit=limit)})
             return
 
-        # ── File blame ────────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- File blame ------------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/blame":
             fp = p("path")
             ref = p("ref", "HEAD")
@@ -199,25 +199,25 @@ def _route(self, path, p, pi):
             self.send_json({"blame": get_file_blame(root, fp, ref)})
             return
 
-        # ── Commit activity chart ─────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Commit activity chart -------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/activity":
             days = pi("days", 90)
             self.send_json({"data": get_commit_stats_by_day(root, days=days)})
             return
 
-        # ── Language stats ────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Language stats --------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/langs":
             self.send_json({"data": get_language_stats(root)})
             return
 
-        # ── Full refresh ──────────────────────────────────────────────
+        # -- Full refresh ----------------------------------------------
         if path == "/api/refresh":
             data = collect_all_data(root)
             GitDiffHandler.initial_data = data
             self.send_json({"status": "ok", "timestamp": int(time.time())})
             return
 
-        # ── Raw git command (safe read-only subset) ───────────────────
+        # -- Raw git command (safe read-only subset) -------------------
         if path == "/api/git":
             cmd = p("cmd")
             SAFE = {"log", "show", "diff", "blame", "ls-tree", "ls-files",
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ def start_server(repo_root: str, data: dict, port: int = None, no_browser: bool
     server = HTTPServer((host, port), GitDiffHandler)
     url = f"http://{host}:{port}"
 
-    print(f"\n  🌐  Server  →  {url}")
-    print(f"  📁  Repo    →  {repo_root}")
+    print(f"\n  Server  ->  {url}")
+    print(f"  Repo    ->  {repo_root}")
     print(f"\n  Press Ctrl+C to stop\n")
 
     if not no_browser:
@@ -271,6 +271,6 @@ def _open():
     try:
         server.serve_forever()
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
-        print("\n  👋  git-diff stopped. Have a good one!\n")
+        print("\n  git-diff stopped. Have a good one!\n")
     finally:
         server.server_close()