Writes every git commit message in Conventional Commits v1.0.0 format with an ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English subject line. Use before running any `git commit`, `git commit --amend`, or `gh pr merge --squash`, and whenever the user asks to "commit", "commit the changes", "write a commit message", "amend the commit", or mentions commit conventions, commit format, or commit message style. Applies in any git repository, Nexa project or not.
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Writes every git commit message in Conventional Commits v1.0.0 format with an ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English subject line. Use before running any `git commit`, `git commit --amend`, or `gh pr merge --squash`, and whenever the user asks to "commit", "commit the changes", "write a commit message", "amend the commit", or mentions commit conventions, commit format, or commit message style. Applies in any git repository, Nexa project or not.
Conventional Commit
Instructions
Compose the commit message before you run git commit. Never run git commit -m
with a message that has not passed the Verification checklist at the end of this
skill.
Format
<type>(<scope>)<!>: <description>
<body>
<footer>
type — required, lowercase, from the table below
scope — optional, in parentheses, no spaces
! — optional, before the colon, marks a breaking change
description — required, one line, imperative, no final period
body — optional, blank line before it, explains why, not what
footer — optional, blank line before it, BREAKING CHANGE: <reason> or
Refs: #42, Closes: #42
Types
Type
Use for
feat
A new capability for the user
fix
A correction of incorrect behaviour
docs
Documentation only
refactor
A change that does not add a capability or correct behaviour
perf
A change that improves speed or resource use
test
Tests only
build
Build system or dependencies
ci
CI configuration or pipelines
chore
Other work that changes no source behaviour
revert
Reverts an earlier commit; the body gives its hash
feat and fix map to MINOR and PATCH. A ! or a BREAKING CHANGE: footer
maps to MAJOR, with any type.
Scope
Derive the scope in this order. Use the first one that applies:
A Nexa work item — the ID of the specification you implement:
UC-XXX, TT-XXX, BUG-XXX, CR-XXX. See
${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/shared/tracking/TRACKING.md for the type-to-ID
mapping and examples. This rule has priority over all the rules below.
A plugin, package, or workspace name in a monorepo — nextjs, core.
A module or feature area that the diff touches — auth, checkout.
No scope, if the change is repository-wide.
Do not invent a scope. Read the diff and the branch name, and use a scope that
is already in the git log history of the repository.
Simplified Technical English
Write the description and the body in ASD-STE100 Simplified Technical English.
These are the STE rules that apply to a commit message:
Use the imperative.add the retry limit, not added or adds.
Use the active voice.the parser rejects empty rows, not empty rows are rejected.
Use the simple present tense. Do not use future, perfect, or progressive
tenses.
Give one instruction per sentence. Keep sentences to 20 words or fewer.
Use one word for one meaning. Keep the same word for the same thing in the
whole message. Do not use synonyms for variety.
Use the approved word for each action — remove, not get rid of; start,
not kick off; change, not tweak.
Do not use the -ing form as a verb.add caching is acceptable when
"caching" is the name of the thing; adding a cache is not.
Do not omit articles to shorten the line.fix the discount calculation is
correct. Drop an article only when the line stays unambiguous without it.
Use three nouns or fewer in a noun cluster. Break up
order total discount code validation.
Do not use slang, jargon, idioms, or humour.
Spell out an abbreviation unless it is a project identifier (UC-003), a
standard technical term (API, HTTP, SQL), or an identifier from the code.
Do not use a pronoun with an unclear antecedent. Name the thing.
Code identifiers, file paths, and commands keep their exact spelling. STE applies
to the prose around them.
DO NOT
The Verification checklist covers the format rules. These are the rules it cannot check:
Do not add a co-author, tool credit, or advertisement footer unless the user
asks for one.
Do not amend or force-push a commit that is already on a shared branch without
the user's confirmation.
Do not run git commit when the user asked only for a review or a diff.
Process
Run git status and git diff --staged. If nothing is staged, run
git diff and stage the files that belong to this one logical change.
Read the diff and name the effect on behaviour in one sentence.
Choose the type from the table. Correct behaviour → fix. New capability →
feat. No behaviour change → refactor, chore, docs, test, build, or ci.
Derive the scope with the priority list above.
Write the description in STE. Rewrite it once to remove every word that carries
no information.
Add a body only when the reason for the change is not clear from the
description. Explain why, not what.
Add ! and a BREAKING CHANGE: footer when a consumer must change their code.
Run the Verification checklist.
Commit with a heredoc so the message keeps its line breaks:
git commit -F - <<'EOF'
fix(BUG-003): apply the discount code to the order total
The total used the list price because the discount ran after the sum.
EOF
Examples
feat(UC-003): add the place order page and its API route
refactor(auth)!: replace the session cookie with a bearer token
BREAKING CHANGE: clients must send the Authorization header. The session
cookie is no longer read.
Rejected subjects and their corrections:
Rejected
Reason
Corrected
Fixed bug in checkout.
past tense, capital, period
fix(checkout): reject an empty cart
feat: adding user stuff
-ing form, slang, no effect stated
feat(users): add the user invite form
chore: updates
no information
chore(deps): raise vitest to 3.2.0
fix: the thing that broke the order total discount code check
3+ noun cluster, unclear pronoun
fix(orders): validate the discount code before the total
Verification
The message is ready only when every line below is true:
The first line matches <type>(<scope>)!?: <description> with a lowercase type
The type is in the table and matches the diff
The scope follows the priority list, or there is no scope
The description is imperative, lowercase, has no final period, and is 72
characters or fewer
The description states the effect on behaviour, not the list of edited files
Every sentence is 20 words or fewer, active voice, simple present
No slang, no idiom, no -ing verb, no unexplained abbreviation, no
unclear pronoun
A blank line separates the description, the body, and the footer
A breaking change has both ! and a BREAKING CHANGE: footer
The commit holds one logical change
If a box fails, rewrite the message. Do not commit a message that fails a box.
