Git Commit Helper

Quick start

Analyze staged changes and generate commit message:

# View staged changes

git diff --staged

# Generate commit message based on changes

# (Claude will analyze the diff and suggest a message)

Commit message format

Follow conventional commits format:

<type>(<scope>): <description>

[optional body]

[optional footer]

Types

• feat: New feature

• fix: Bug fix

• docs: Documentation changes

• style: Code style changes (formatting, missing semicolons)

• refactor: Code refactoring

• test: Adding or updating tests

• chore: Maintenance tasks

Examples

Feature commit:

feat(auth): add JWT authentication

Implement JWT-based authentication system with:

- Login endpoint with token generation

- Token validation middleware

- Refresh token support

Bug fix:

fix(api): handle null values in user profile

Prevent crashes when user profile fields are null.

Add null checks before accessing nested properties.

Refactor:

refactor(database): simplify query builder

Extract common query patterns into reusable functions.

Reduce code duplication in database layer.

Analyzing changes

Review what's being committed:

# Show files changed

git status

# Show detailed changes

git diff --staged

# Show statistics

git diff --staged --stat

# Show changes for specific file

git diff --staged path/to/file

Commit message guidelines

DO:

• Use imperative mood ("add feature" not "added feature")

• Keep first line under 50 characters

• Capitalize first letter

• No period at end of summary

• Explain WHY not just WHAT in body

DON'T:

• Use vague messages like "update" or "fix stuff"

• Include technical implementation details in summary

• Write paragraphs in summary line

• Use past tense

Multi-file commits

When committing multiple related changes:

refactor(core): restructure authentication module

- Move auth logic from controllers to service layer

- Extract validation into separate validators

- Update tests to use new structure

- Add integration tests for auth flow

Breaking change: Auth service now requires config object

Scope examples

Frontend:

• feat(ui): add loading spinner to dashboard

• fix(form): validate email format

Backend:

• feat(api): add user profile endpoint

• fix(db): resolve connection pool leak

Infrastructure:

• chore(ci): update Node version to 20

• feat(docker): add multi-stage build

Breaking changes

Indicate breaking changes clearly:

feat(api)!: restructure API response format

BREAKING CHANGE: All API responses now follow JSON:API spec

Previous format:

{ "data": {...}, "status": "ok" }

New format:

{ "data": {...}, "meta": {...} }

Migration guide: Update client code to handle new response structure

Template workflow

• Review changes: git diff --staged

• Identify type: Is it feat, fix, refactor, etc.?

• Determine scope: What part of the codebase?

• Write summary: Brief, imperative description

• Add body: Explain why and what impact

• Note breaking changes: If applicable

Interactive commit helper

Use git add -p for selective staging:

# Stage changes interactively

git add -p

# Review what's staged

git diff --staged

# Commit with message

git commit -m "type(scope): description"

Amending commits

Fix the last commit message:

# Amend commit message only

git commit --amend

# Amend and add more changes

git add forgotten-file.js

git commit --amend --no-edit

Best practices

• Atomic commits - One logical change per commit

• Test before commit - Ensure code works

• Reference issues - Include issue numbers if applicable

• Keep it focused - Don't mix unrelated changes

• Write for humans - Future you will read this

Commit message checklist

• Type is appropriate (feat/fix/docs/etc.)

• Scope is specific and clear

• Summary is under 50 characters

• Summary uses imperative mood

• Body explains WHY not just WHAT

• Breaking changes are clearly marked

• Related issue numbers are included