Automate Your Git Workflow with Git Magic (with examples)

Git is a powerful version control system that allows developers to track changes to their code and collaborate with others. However, the process of adding, committing, and pushing changes can become repetitive and time-consuming. That’s where the git magic command comes in.

With the git magic command, you can automate these routine tasks and save time in your development workflow. In this article, we will explore different use cases of the git magic command and see how it can streamline your Git workflow. Let’s get started!

Use Case 1: Commit changes with a generated message

git magic

Motivation: This use case is handy when you want to quickly commit your changes without spending time writing a commit message. The git magic command will generate a commit message for you based on the changes made.

Explanation: Without any arguments, git magic will automatically add all modified files, create a commit with a generated message, and stage the changes for a push to the remote repository.

Example Output:

[master cbd9437] Updated files
2 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)

Use Case 2: Add untracked files and commit changes with a generated message

git magic -a

Motivation: Sometimes, you may have new files that are not yet tracked by Git. This use case is helpful when you want to automatically add these untracked files, commit the changes, and stage them for pushing to the remote repository.

Explanation: The -a flag in git magic -a instructs Git to add all untracked files before creating the commit. This ensures that all modifications, including the new files, are included in the commit.

Example Output:

[master cbd86a0] Added new files
3 files changed, 27 insertions(+)

Use Case 3: Commit changes with a custom message

git magic -m "custom_commit_message"

Motivation: There are times when you need to provide a specific commit message to describe the changes you made. This use case allows you to include a custom commit message when creating a commit.

Explanation: The -m flag in git magic -m "custom_commit_message" lets you specify a custom commit message within quotes. This allows you to provide more context and clarity about the changes you made.

Example Output:

[master cbd8a42] custom_commit_message
2 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

Use Case 4: Edit the commit message before committing

git magic -em "custom_commit_message"

Motivation: After writing a commit message, you may realize that there are mistakes or inaccuracies. This use case allows you to easily edit the commit message before the commit is finalized.

Explanation: The -em flag in git magic -em "custom_commit_message" opens the default text editor, allowing you to modify the commit message. This ensures that you can correct any errors or make improvements to the message before committing the changes.

Example Output:

[master cbd8a42] custom_commit_message
2 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

Please note that the example output will not show the edited commit message, as it depends on the text editor you are using.

Use Case 5: Commit changes and push to remote

git magic -p

Motivation: Once you have committed your changes, it is often necessary to push them to a remote repository to share your work with others. This use case allows you to automate the process of committing and pushing changes.

Explanation: The -p flag in git magic -p instructs Git to push the committed changes to the remote repository. This is useful when you want to save time by avoiding separate commands for committing and pushing.

Example Output:

[master cbd9419] Updated files
2 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
Counting objects: 5, done.
Delta compression using up to 8 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (3/3), done.
Writing objects: 100% (5/5), 658 bytes | 658.00 KiB/s, done.
Total 5 (delta 2), reused 0 (delta 0)
To https://github.com/username/repository.git
   e546e0a..cbd9419  master -> master

Use Case 6: Commit changes with a force push to remote

git magic -fp

Motivation: Occasionally, you may need to force push your changes to the remote repository, overwriting any conflicting changes. This use case allows you to automate the process of committing and force pushing changes.

Explanation: The -fp flag in git magic -fp combines the regular commit process with a force push. It commits the changes and then forcefully pushes them to the remote repository, disregarding any conflicting changes.

Example Output:

[master cbd944c] Updated files
2 files changed, 15 insertions(+), 5 deletions(-)
Counting objects: 5, done.
Delta compression using up to 8 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (3/3), done.
Writing objects: 100% (5/5), 658 bytes | 658.00 KiB/s, done.
Total 5 (delta 2), reused 0 (delta 0)
To https://github.com/username/repository.git
 + cbd944c...cbd944c  master -> master (forced update)

Conclusion

The git magic command is a powerful tool that can automate and streamline your Git workflow. By using different flags, you can customize the behavior of the command to suit your needs. Whether you want to quickly commit changes, add untracked files, or force push to a remote repository, git magic has got you covered. Give it a try and experience the magic yourself!