Commit

Commit

Stage pending changes and create a single commit with a concise, accurate message.

Process

1. Gather context. Run these in parallel:

   • git status — list changed and untracked files
   • git diff HEAD — see actual content changes
   • git branch --show-current — confirm branch
   • git log --oneline -5 — learn the repo's commit message style

2. Run safety checks before staging.

   • If the current branch is main, master, or develop, stop and ask the user whether to proceed. Feature branches are the default.
   • Scan the file list for secrets or stray binaries: .env, .env.*, credentials*, *.key, *.pem, id_rsa*, or any file larger than 5 MB. If any match, stop and confirm with the user before staging.

3. Stage files explicitly by name. Never use git add . or git add -A.

   • Example: git add src/foo.ts src/bar.ts tests/foo.test.ts
   • Include both modified and new files that belong in the commit.
   • Leave anything that was flagged in step 2 unstaged unless the user approves.

4. Draft the commit message.

   • Match the style observed in git log --oneline -5 (conventional commits, prefixes, casing).
   • Subject ≤70 chars, imperative mood ("add X", "fix Y", not "added" or "fixes").
   • Focus on the why when it isn't obvious from the diff.

5. Create the commit with a HEREDOC so formatting is preserved:

   git commit -m "$(cat <<'EOF'
   your message here
   EOF
   )"
   

6. Verify the commit. Run git status and confirm the working tree is clean (or only contains files intentionally left unstaged in step 2).

Do NOT

• Push to remote or create a PR.
• Amend the previous commit. If a hook fails, fix the issue and create a NEW commit.
• Pass --no-verify, --no-gpg-sign, or otherwise skip hooks.
• Stage .env, credentials, keys, or unreviewed binaries.
• Use git add . or git add -A.