Commit

Commit

Goal: small commits. Easy review wins.

Start:

• git status --short
• git diff --stat
• git diff
• git log --oneline -n 20
• If needed: git log --oneline -- <path>

Slice:

• One concern per commit.
• Split unrelated edits.
• If diff feels big, split more.
• Do not mix refactor + behavior change unless tiny and inseparable.
• Leave unrelated work unstaged.

Stage:

• Prefer explicit paths: git add path/to/file.
• Avoid git add . and git commit -a in dirty trees.
• If staged too much: git restore --staged <path>.
• Review exact commit with git diff --cached --stat and git diff --cached.

Keep out:

• Never commit gitignored files.
• Never commit ephemeral files: logs, caches, temp output, build artifacts, local env files, editor junk, downloaded files.
• When unsure: git check-ignore -v <path>.
• If file looks generated or local-only, leave it out unless user explicitly wants it committed.

Message:

• Infer pattern from recent commits first.
• Prefer touched-path history over repo-wide history when it shows a clear style.
• If project style is mixed or unclear, default to conventional commits.
• Keep subject short, specific, imperative, no trailing period.
• Safe defaults: feat(scope): add x, fix(scope): handle y, refactor(scope): simplify z, docs(scope): update w, chore(scope): clean up q.

Commit:

• Commit only the reviewed slice.
• After commit, verify with git show --stat --oneline HEAD.
• If nothing clean and coherent to commit, say so instead of forcing one.