Re: How to make devs write better commit messages

[Michael Schubert <mschub@elegosoft.com>]

On 12/06/2011 11:55 PM, Joseph Huttner wrote:
> So I know that there is a somewhat standard format of commit messages
> in Git, which Linus outlines here:
> 
> https://github.com/torvalds/subsurface/blob/master/README#L164
> 
> Trouble is, when most people go to commit, the file that the editor
> opens has no reminder of how to write a proper commit message.  Often
> I find myself having to go back through the commit log, or consulting
> the above link.
> 
> I propose two things:
> 
> 1.  An optional flag in the Git config that, if set, shows the format
> of a typical commit message in your commit message template.
> 
> 2.  The ability to modify this commit message template.  Many teams
> use automated tools to read commit messages and then do automated
> tasks based on that data, like comment an RT ticket.  Thus, developers
> need to be reminded of these team-specific settings as well.
> 
> What are your thoughts?

If it's no social issue but just due to lack of a reminder you
could provide a template for commit.template. Either way: you
still would have to force people to set it.?