Amending and Updating a Git Commit

Written by smpnjn | Published 2022/08/29
Tech Story Tags: web-development | web-design | git | github | guide | beginners-guide | how-to | tips

TLDRUse `--amend` to update your git commit messages by adding a new file to your commit message. Use it to add files to an already committed change to your existing commit messages. For example, add style.css to your already made commit message, and the message for that commit will remain the same. Use `git commit --amend --no-edit` to add the same file to the existing commit message as you normally would like so, and use `git add` to your new commit.via the TL;DR App

Have you ever made a commit message with git commit like this?

git commit -m "Fixed CSS"

Only to remember the hundreds of articles you've read on writing "real" commit messages and to immediately regret your decision? If you've ever done this, you can undo your commit, but an easier way to update your git message is with --amend:

git commit --amend -m "feat-new-ui: Updated margins by 0.25rem"

Now, you can easily update your commit messages by simply adding --amend to your git command.

Other Uses for git commit --amend

Not only can git commit --amend be used to make changes to a git message, but we can also use it to add files to an already committed change. For example, let's say you forgot to add the file style.css to your commit but you want it all to exist on the same commit.

All you have to do is use git add to add the file as you normally would like so and use git commit --amend --no-edit to add the file to your existing git commit. Simple!

git add style.css
git commit --amend --no-edit

Now, your already made commit will have the file style.css included, and the message for that commit will remain the same.


Written by smpnjn | Product, Engineering, Web
Published by HackerNoon on 2022/08/29