---
name: Commit Message
slug: commit-message-2
category: Automation
description: Commit Message reviews working-tree changes and drafts a Conventional Commits title, body, and release bump. It is used when preparing a commit message or checking semantic-release and semver impact before git commit.
github: "https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/tree/main/skills/commit-message"
language: Shell
stars: 173
forks: 14
install: "npx degit https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/tree/main/skills/commit-message ~/.claude/skills/commit-message"
installs_to: ~/.claude/skills/commit-message
source_path: skills/commit-message/SKILL.md
collection_size: 23
category_size: 2109
collection_url: "https://dirskills.com/collections/danielvm-git/bigpowers"
added: 2026-09-07T05:22:11.087Z
last_synced: 2026-09-07T05:22:11.087Z
canonical_url: "https://dirskills.com/skills/commit-message-2"
---

# Commit Message

Commit Message reviews working-tree changes and drafts a Conventional Commits title, body, and release bump. It is used when preparing a commit message or checking semantic-release and semver impact before git commit.

**Install:**

```bash
npx degit https://github.com/danielvm-git/bigpowers/tree/main/skills/commit-message ~/.claude/skills/commit-message
```

## README

# story: e82s02

# Commit Message
> **HARD GATE** — **HARD GATE** — Commits must follow Conventional Commits spec (type(scope): description). Do NOT use vague messages like 'fix' or 'updates.' The message must explain the 'why,' not the 'what.'


## Modes

- Default: standard Conventional Commits message
- --fix-type: Forces type=fix. Use when commit type is unambiguous.

## What "last chat" means

- **Primary source of truth:** Read `state.yaml` `vcs.kind`. Git uses `git status`, `git diff`, and `git diff --cached`; Jujutsu uses `jj status`, `jj diff`, and `jj log -r @`. Run in the repo root.
- **Context:** use the current conversation to summarize *intent* and to spot **breaking** API/behavior changes that diff alone may not show.
- If the user tracks a session baseline (e.g. branch, tag, or `git stash create` at start), you may `git diff <baseline>..HEAD` plus uncommitted diffs; otherwise use only the index and working tree.

## Quick workflow

1. **Inventory** — List changed paths; group by feature vs chore vs docs vs test-only.
2. **Decide commit shape** — One atomic commit is ideal. If the diff mixes unrelated concerns, recommend **multiple commits** (each with its own type/scope) before suggesting one message.
3. **Classify for semantic release** — `fix` → patch, `feat` → minor, **breaking** → major.
4. **Write the message** — `type(optional-scope)!: description` (see [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md#message-format)). Use `!` or a `BREAKING CHANGE:` footer when behavior contracts change.
5. **Note defensive-code categories touched** — from CONVENTIONS.md: Rate limit | Retry with backoff | Circuit breaker | Timeout | Graceful degradation
6. **Note fix-ratio contribution** — Each `fix:` commit counts toward `metrics.commit_ratio.fix` in `specs/state.yaml`. After `release-branch`, `session-state` recalculates the ratio automatically. A high fix rate (>30%) triggers a deploy + smoke-test suggestion.
7. **Deliver** — Output:
   - Proposed **full commit message** (title + optional body + footers).
   - **Release bump** this commit would drive: `patch` | `minor` | `major` | `none`.
   - Optional native command: Git `git commit -m`; Jujutsu `jj commit -m`. Never omit `-m` or run destructive commands unless asked.

## Checklist before finalizing

- [ ] Type matches the **dominant** user-visible outcome (`feat` vs `fix` vs `perf`, etc.).
- [ ] **Scope** is a short noun in parentheses if it helps (e.g. `fix(api): …`).
- [ ] Breaking changes are explicit (`!` and/or `BREAKING CHANGE:` in the body/footer).
- [ ] Description is imperative, lowercase start after the prefix, no trailing period in the title line.
- [ ] **NO `Co-authored-by` or `Co-Authored-By` footers** — P1 rule (CONVENTIONS.md § Git Attribution). All commits must appear as if authored solely by the human user. The git hook and `land-branch.sh` both block these.

## When not to invent a bump

If the repo uses a custom `@semantic-release/commit-analyzer` preset, note that your bump is **heuristic** and they should match `.releaserc` / `release.config.*`. See [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md#custom-repositories).

## Further reading

- [REFERENCE.md](REFERENCE.md) — Message shape, footers, release mapping, squashing notes.



## Handoff

Gate: READY -> next: release-branch
Writes: state.yaml handoff.next_skill = release-branch