format-commit-message
Generate standardized conventional commit messages with Claude Code attribution. Use when creating automated commits, release commits, or any git commit requiring consistent formatting.
Best use case
format-commit-message is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Generate standardized conventional commit messages with Claude Code attribution. Use when creating automated commits, release commits, or any git commit requiring consistent formatting.
Teams using format-commit-message should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/format-commit-message/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How format-commit-message Compares
| Feature / Agent | format-commit-message | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Generate standardized conventional commit messages with Claude Code attribution. Use when creating automated commits, release commits, or any git commit requiring consistent formatting.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Format Commit Message
Generate conventional commit messages following project standards with proper attribution.
## When to Use
- Release commits
- Automated version updates
- Refactoring commits
- Any commit requiring consistent formatting
- Documentation updates
## Instructions
### Step 1: Gather Commit Information
Collect required information for commit message.
**Expected Input**:
- `type`: String (feat|fix|chore|docs|refactor|test|style|perf)
- `scope`: String (optional, e.g., "auth", "api", "ui")
- `description`: String (brief description)
- `body`: String (optional, detailed explanation)
- `breaking`: Boolean (optional, is this a breaking change?)
### Step 2: Format Message
Apply conventional commit format with project standards.
**Format Structure**:
```
{type}({scope}): {description}
{body}
{footer}
```
**Footer Template**:
```
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
**Breaking Changes**:
If `breaking: true`, prepend "BREAKING CHANGE: " to body or add as footer.
### Step 3: Validate Message
Ensure message follows guidelines.
**Validation Rules**:
- Type must be valid (feat|fix|chore|docs|refactor|test|style|perf)
- Description must be present and < 72 characters
- Description should be lowercase and no period at end
- Scope should be lowercase if present
- Body should be wrapped at 72 characters if present
### Step 4: Return Formatted Message
Return complete commit message ready for git commit.
**Expected Output**:
```
feat(auth): add OAuth2 authentication support
Implemented OAuth2 flow with token refresh and secure storage.
Supports Google and GitHub providers.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
## Error Handling
- **Invalid Type**: Return error listing valid types
- **Missing Description**: Return error requesting description
- **Description Too Long**: Return error with character count
- **Invalid Format**: Describe format issue
## Examples
### Example 1: Simple Feature Commit
**Input**:
```json
{
"type": "feat",
"description": "add dark mode toggle"
}
```
**Output**:
```
feat: add dark mode toggle
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
### Example 2: Scoped Fix with Body
**Input**:
```json
{
"type": "fix",
"scope": "api",
"description": "resolve memory leak in connection pool",
"body": "Connection pooling was not properly releasing connections after timeout. Implemented automatic cleanup and connection recycling."
}
```
**Output**:
```
fix(api): resolve memory leak in connection pool
Connection pooling was not properly releasing connections after
timeout. Implemented automatic cleanup and connection recycling.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
### Example 3: Breaking Change
**Input**:
```json
{
"type": "feat",
"scope": "api",
"description": "migrate to v2 authentication API",
"breaking": true,
"body": "Updated authentication to use new v2 endpoints with improved security."
}
```
**Output**:
```
feat(api): migrate to v2 authentication API
BREAKING CHANGE: Updated authentication to use new v2 endpoints with
improved security. All clients must update authentication tokens.
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
### Example 4: Release Commit
**Input**:
```json
{
"type": "chore",
"scope": "release",
"description": "bump version to 0.8.0"
}
```
**Output**:
```
chore(release): bump version to 0.8.0
🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)
Co-Authored-By: Claude <noreply@anthropic.com>
```
## Validation
- [ ] Formats all conventional commit types correctly
- [ ] Handles optional scope properly
- [ ] Wraps long descriptions and bodies
- [ ] Includes Claude Code attribution
- [ ] Formats breaking changes correctly
- [ ] Validates input fields
## Supporting Files
- `template.md`: Commit message template reference (see Supporting Files section)Related Skills
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