Building KOS: A Journey Through Zero Dependencies (And the Bugs That Taught Me Everything)

Description and use

KOS is a portable, encrypted version control system written in Go with no external dependencies. It stores snapshots in a single file, offers simple commands, and enables secure sharing.

Problem

Develop a lightweight, encrypted version control system that is portable, has zero external dependencies, and stores snapshots in a single file.

Outcome

KOS delivers a portable, encrypted VCS with zero dependencies, simplifying snapshot management and enabling secure sharing without complex setup.

Workflow

• Clone the repo and install the binary
• Run kos init to create a new project
• Use kos save "message" to capture snapshots
• View history with kos view
• Compare snapshots with kos diff
• Tag releases using kos tag
• Restore snapshots via kos checkout
• Encrypt snapshots with kos save --encrypt and share via kos share/kos load
• Manage projects with kos projects, kos rename, kos stats, and kos search

Evidence

KOS is a portable, encrypted version control system. It's not trying to replace Git. It's trying to be something Git isn't: Single file, Zero dependencies, Encrypted, Portable, Simple

Source

Early on, I implemented KOS to share and diff by snapshot ID. Simple, right?

Source