csw-git

name	csw-git
description	Perform conservative Git status, commit, history, rebase, and recovery work with explicit mode selection, atomic scope, conflict evidence, and non-destructive recovery paths.

Git master

Use this skill for repository status, commit planning, history investigation, blame, bisect, rebase, squash, conflict resolution, or recovery. Git operations are state changes with potentially shared consequences; determine authority and pushed state before mutation.

Copilot CLI compatibility

• Run Git through the host shell permission model.
• This skill never grants permission to commit, push, tag, rebase, reset, force-update, or discard.
• Preserve unrelated dirty and untracked work.
• Prefer non-interactive commands and explicit paths.
• Use host workers only for independent read-only history analysis under enforced non-mutating tools.

Required references

• Commit strategy
• History and recovery
• Rebase safety

Mode gate

Select exactly one primary mode:

Mode	User intent	Mutation allowed?
Status	understand branch/worktree/upstream	no
Commit planning	propose atomic groups/messages	no
Commit execution	stage and create authorized commits	yes, explicit request
History investigation	find origin, author, regression	no
Rebase planning	inspect range, risks, recovery	no
Rebase execution	rewrite local history	yes, explicit request
Recovery	restore from known Git state	depends on exact request

Do not turn “review these changes” into a commit, or “clean history” into a rebase, without explicit authorization.

Ground truth packet

Use the relevant subset:

git status --short
git branch --show-current
git diff --stat
git diff --staged --stat
git diff
git diff --staged
git log -30 --oneline --decorate
git rev-parse HEAD
git rev-parse --abbrev-ref '@{upstream}'
git rev-list --left-right --count HEAD...'@{upstream}'

Quote revision expressions so the shell cannot reinterpret them. A missing upstream is unknown, not proof that work is private. Inspect remotes and hosting state when the operation depends on it.

Worktree ownership

Classify every changed path:

• created by the current task;
• pre-existing user change;
• generated output;
• ignored local state;
• submodule or nested repository;
• unresolved conflict;
• unknown ownership.

Never stage “all” until ownership and scope are known. Prefer explicit paths or reviewed hunks.

Commit planning

Before staging:

1. inspect full unstaged and staged diffs;
2. identify repository message style and contribution rules;
3. group by one behavior or independently revertible purpose;
4. keep implementation with its direct tests and factual docs;
5. separate unrelated formatting, generated output, dependency changes, and migrations;
6. name verification required for each group.

Use Commit strategy. A small commit is not automatically atomic; an atomic commit is coherent, buildable where practical, and independently explainable.

Commit execution

Only after explicit request:

1. stage one reviewed group by path or hunk;
2. inspect git diff --staged completely;
3. run the group's verification;
4. create the commit using repository style;
5. inspect the resulting commit and remaining worktree;
6. report hash, message, files, verification, and unstaged changes.

Do not amend or sign unless requested or required by established repository policy and available configuration.

History investigation

Choose the query by question:

• exact text added/removed: git log -S;
• diff matching a pattern: git log -G;
• line attribution with movement context: git blame then inspect commit;
• file evolution across renames: git log --follow -- <path>;
• known good/bad regression: git bisect with a deterministic test;
• commit contents: git show --stat --patch <revision>.

Read the actual diff and surrounding history. A blame line names the last textual change, not necessarily the design owner or root cause. Follow History and recovery.

Rebase planning

Before rewriting:

• identify exact branch, base, range, upstream, and ahead/behind state;
• determine whether commits were pushed or consumed by others;
• record current HEAD and a recovery reference;
• inspect merges, signatures, submodules, generated artifacts, and conflicts likely to recur;
• define desired commit sequence and verification after each logical group;
• require explicit approval for force update.

If shared history risk is unclear, stop at a plan. See Rebase safety.

Rebase execution

Use non-interactive mechanisms when they can express the approved plan. During conflicts:

1. read base/ours/theirs and surrounding history;
2. resolve according to intended final behavior, not by choosing one side wholesale;
3. inspect conflict markers and staged resolution;
4. run focused verification;
5. continue only after the current step is coherent.

After completion, compare old and new ranges, run regression tests, inspect worktree, and verify recovery references. Use --force-with-lease only when push was explicitly authorized and remote state was freshly checked.

Recovery

Start with observation: status, reflog, current/previous HEAD, stash list, untracked files, and any operation state. Do not reach first for destructive reset or checkout.

Prefer creating a recovery branch or worktree from the known commit before manipulating uncertain state. Restore only paths and state the user identified. Never delete untracked files as generic cleanup.

Submodules and nested repositories

Treat each repository as a separate ownership and status surface. A parent diff may contain only a pointer change while the nested worktree has its own dirty files. Record both before commit or recovery decisions.

Verification

After mutation, inspect:

• git status --short;
• resulting commit/range and messages;
• staged and unstaged diffs;
• upstream divergence;
• conflict markers;
• relevant tests and real scenario;
• recovery reference and remaining dirty files.

Completion report

Report selected mode, commands, hashes, messages, verification, upstream state, remaining worktree, and recovery path. Never claim a push, remote update, or clean worktree without observing it.