@viccalexander/smart-commit

Smart Commit

A simple command-line tool that writes clean, consistent Git commit messages for you. Designed to stay out of your way.

Smart Commit helps your Git history read clearly, every time.

Quickstart

# Install
npm install -g smart-commit

# Run (first time walks you through setup)
git smart-commit

Designed for developers who

• Care about readable commit history
• Work with Linear or issue-based branches
• Want commits that are predictable, fast, and boring in the best way

No lock-in. No Git hooks. No ceremony.
Just a better way to commit.

How it works

Run:

git smart-commit

Smart Commit will:

• Stage your changes
• Understand what changed
• Write a clear commit message
• Show it to you first
• Let you confirm, edit, or walk away

Nothing happens without your say-so.

Example:

✨ vicc-3: Move debug menu into HomeView

- Relocated debug entry point
- Removed legacy controller

Features

• LLM-generated commit messages via llm
• Short, imperative subject lines
• Automatic issue keys from branch names
• Emoji prefixes for easy scanning
• Preview and confirmation by default
• A fast path when you’re ready to trust it

Safe when you want it. Fast when you need it.

Requirements

• Git
• Bash (macOS or Linux)
• Python (for llm CLI tool - installed automatically on first run)

That's it! The first-run setup handles everything else.

Installation

Option 1: npm (Recommended)

npm install -g smart-commit

Option 2: Homebrew

brew tap vicc/tap
brew install smart-commit

Option 3: Manual

mkdir -p ~/bin
curl -o ~/bin/git-smart-commit https://raw.githubusercontent.com/vicc/smart-commit/main/bin/git-smart-commit
chmod +x ~/bin/git-smart-commit
export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"

Or clone this repo and copy the script manually.

Initial setup

The first time you run git smart-commit, it will walk you through a quick setup:

• Install the llm CLI tool (automatic)
• Choose your LLM provider (OpenAI or Anthropic)
• Enter your API key
• Select a model

That's it! The setup takes less than a minute.

Change configuration later

To re-run the setup wizard:

git smart-commit --setup

Or configure manually:

llm keys set openai     # or claude
llm models default gpt-4o-mini

Usage

Preview and confirm (default):

git smart-commit

Commit immediately:

git smart-commit -y

Edit before committing:

git smart-commit -e

Dry run only:

git smart-commit --dry-run

Re-run setup wizard:

git smart-commit --setup

Commit style

Smart Commit follows a few simple rules:

• Imperative mood
• Subject line under 72 characters
• Emoji prefix for intent
• Issue key included when available

Emoji meanings:

• ✨ Feature
• 🐛 Fix
• ♻️ Refactor
• 🎨 UI / Style
• ⚡️ Performance
• 🧪 Tests
• 📦 Dependencies
• 🔒 Security
• 📝 Docs
• 🔧 Config / Tooling
• 🚀 Deployment / CI
• 🏗️ Architecture
• 🔥 Cleanup / Removal

Philosophy

Good commit history is kindness to Future You.

License

MIT