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Git Hooks: Automate Your Workflow

2025-03-03

Introduction

Git Hooks allow you to run custom scripts at key points in your Git workflow. They help automate tasks, improve code quality, and enforce team policies without manual intervention.

What are Git Hooks?

Git Hooks are small scripts that Git executes before or after events such as committing or merging code. These hooks are stored in the .git/hooks directory of your repository.

Why Use Git Hooks?

Using Git Hooks can help you:

  • Automatically run tests before commits to catch errors early.
  • Enforce coding standards by checking code formatting or style.
  • Trigger notifications or continuous integration builds.
  • Prevent commits that do not meet predefined quality criteria.

How to Set Up Git Hooks

To use Git Hooks, go to your repository’s .git/hooks folder. You'll see sample hook files ending in .sample. To activate a hook, rename it by removing the .sample extension and make sure it is executable.

Example: Pre-commit Hook

A common hook is the pre-commit hook, which runs before a commit is finalized. Here’s an example script that checks for trailing whitespace:


#!/bin/sh
if git diff --cached --check | grep -q "trailing whitespace"; then
    echo "Error: Trailing whitespace detected. Please fix before committing."
    exit 1
fi

Save this script as pre-commit in the .git/hooks directory and give it executable permissions (for example, by running chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit).

Tips and Best Practices

  • Keep your hook scripts simple and focused on a single task.
  • Test your hooks thoroughly to avoid blocking valid commits accidentally.
  • Share useful hooks with your team to maintain consistent coding standards.
  • Document what each hook does so everyone on your team understands its purpose.

Conclusion

Git Hooks are a powerful way to automate parts of your development process. By setting up and customizing hooks, you can streamline your workflow, enforce quality standards, and catch issues early. Experiment with different hooks to find the setup that best suits your team’s needs.