commit

git commit [-a | --interactive | --patch] [-s | --no-signoff] [-v | --verbose] [--amend] [-m <msg>] [-F <file>] [--author="<author>"] [--no-verify] [<file>...]

-m <msg>
    Use the given msg as the commit message.

-a | --all
    Automatically stage files that have been modified and deleted, then commit.

--amend
    Combine the new changes with the previous commit, rather than creating a new one.

-F <file> | --file=<file>
    Take the commit message from the given file.

-s | --signoff
    Add a "Signed-off-by" line by the committer at the end of the commit message.

-v | --verbose
    Show unified diff of all changes to be committed, above the message.

--no-verify
    Bypass the pre-commit and commit-msg Git hooks.

--author="<author>"
    Override the commit author for this commit.

The `commit` command is not a standalone Linux utility but a fundamental subcommand of version control systems, most notably Git. This analysis focuses on git commit, which captures the current state of the project's staged changes (those added via `git add`) into a new commit object in the repository's history. Each commit represents a unique snapshot of the project at a specific point in time, identified by a SHA-1 hash, and includes the author, committer, timestamp, and a crucial commit message. The commit message provides essential context and documentation for the changes. This action permanently saves your work to the project's timeline, making it available for tracking, reverting, or sharing with others. Without committing, changes remain local, untracked, or only staged.

The `commit` command is not a standalone Linux utility but a subcommand of version control systems (like Git or SVN). This analysis specifically details `git commit`, which is the prevalent use case in modern Linux development. Users must have Git installed and configured. Forgetting to stage files using `git add` before committing will result in those changes not being included in the commit.

A well-crafted commit message is vital for project maintainability. It typically has a concise subject line (under 50-72 characters) followed by an optional blank line and a more detailed body explaining "what" changes were made and "why," rather than just "how." This significantly aids in understanding project history, debugging, and collaboration.

Before executing `git commit`, changes must typically be added to the Git "staging area" (or index) using `git add`. This intermediate step allows for granular control, letting developers select specific changes or even parts of changes to be included in the next commit, thereby crafting focused and logical commit units.

The concept of "committing" changes is central to version control systems since their inception. When Linus Torvalds created Git in 2005, the `git commit` command was one of its core functionalities from the outset, enabling the atomic recording of changes to a repository. Its design reflects Git's distributed nature, where commits are local snapshots that can later be pushed to remote repositories. Over time, options like `--amend` and hooks were added to enhance its flexibility and integrate seamlessly with complex development workflows, making it a cornerstone of modern software development.

git-add(1), git-status(1), git-log(1), git-reset(1), git-diff(1)