From: Joshua Juran <jjuran@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2010 01:29:01 GMT
Subject: Re: Adding a commit message to the index
Message-ID: <7AA1261F-8DDD-4599-9A11-753334634DB2@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To: <3347.4c955dd6.4a79e@getafix.xdna.net>

On Sep 18, 2010, at 5:48 PM, Cameron Hutchison wrote:

> Is it possible to add a commit message to the index, and have it  
> used as
> the final commit message, or as the template for the final commit
> message?
>
> Witnessing AKPM's ongoing efforts on linux-kernel to get better commit
> messages out of people, it seems it would be beneficial to be able to
> stage a commit message and refine it over the course of the  
> development
> of the commit. The first cut is rarely the best, so being able to  
> refine
> a commit message as one can refine a commit by incrementally using the
> index seems like a good idea.

One of the reasons for having a local repo is so you can check in work  
in progress without committing it to public history.

If you're ready to write a commit message, then make a commit.  You  
can refine it incrementally with `git commit --amend`.

Also, consider making multiple fine-grained commits, and then use  
interactive rebase to squash them into fewer larger commits (and edit  
commit messages) as appropriate.  It's a lot easier to squash fine  
commits than to split course ones.

To summarize:  Commit first, answer questions later.

Josh