git-commit-instructions

Git Commit Instructions

Overview

Use this checklist to keep commits focused, reviewable, and free of build artifacts and other noise.

Before Every Commit

git status --porcelain
git diff --stat          # unstaged changes
git diff --cached --stat # staged changes

Stage Intentionally (preferred)

git add path/to/file.go path/to/dir/

Use git add -A only when you are sure you want every change.

Inspect What Will Be Committed

git diff --cached --name-only

Commit Pattern

git commit -m "Short summary of change"
git rev-parse HEAD

Never Commit (common noise)

Avoid committing:

• node_modules/, vendor/
• dist/, build/, out/
• .env, .env.local
• binaries (*.exe, *.bin, etc.)
• logs (*.log)
• OS/IDE junk (.DS_Store, Thumbs.db, .idea/, .vscode/ unless shared)
• test artifacts (coverage/, *.cover)
• temp dirs (tmp/, temp/)

Quick Checks

git status --ignored
git check-ignore -v path/to/file

If You Accidentally Staged Something

git reset HEAD path/to/file   # unstage one file
git reset HEAD                # unstage everything

If Noise Got Committed

git rm --cached path/to/noise
echo "path/to/noise" >> .gitignore
git add .gitignore
git commit --amend --no-edit  # if it was the last commit

Reference

Load references/git-commit-instructions.md for the full command list and recovery patterns.