Git Commit Hygiene

Git Commit Hygiene

Overview

Use this skill to create commit history that reviewers can reason about and operators can bisect safely.

Scope Boundaries

• Use this skill when the task matches the trigger condition described in description.
• Do not use this skill when the primary task falls outside this skill's domain.

Shared References

• Commit message quality rules:
  • references/commit-message-quality-rules.md

Templates And Assets

• Commit slicing checklist:
  • assets/commit-slicing-checklist.md
• Commit message template:
  • assets/commit-message-template.txt

Inputs To Gather

• Changed files and logical change boundaries.
• Team commit message conventions and compliance constraints.
• Risk profile of the change set (critical path vs local refactor).
• Required verification scope before push.

Deliverables

• Logical commit slicing plan.
• Commit messages with explicit intent/rationale.
• Verification notes per commit (tests/checks run).
• Traceability-ready history for review and rollback.

Workflow

1. Separate unrelated changes using assets/commit-slicing-checklist.md.
2. Write commit messages from assets/commit-message-template.txt and references/commit-message-quality-rules.md.
3. Ensure each commit is independently reviewable and reversible.
4. Run required tests/checks before push.
5. Re-check history for mixed intent, hidden generated noise, and sensitive content.

Quality Standard

• Each commit has one primary behavioral intent.
• Messages explain why and risk, not only file changes.
• Commit sequence is bisect-friendly for regression analysis.
• Sensitive data never appears in staged history.

Failure Conditions

• Stop when a commit mixes unrelated behavior changes.
• Stop when a commit cannot be validated independently.
• Escalate when traceability/compliance requirements cannot be met with current history.