Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Conventional Commit Writer agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The conventional-commit skill tells an AI agent how to write git commit messages in the Conventional Commits style, such as "feat(parser): add array support", and then run the commit for you. This guide is for readers who have never used agent skills, and it covers installing the skill, asking for a commit in plain language, and the safety points to know before you let it run.
Conventional Commit Writergithub/awesome-copilot · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download and unzip. Download the skill ZIP from this page and unzip it so you have a folder containing SKILL.md.
- 2Place the skill folder. Copy the folder into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use, or into a project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- 3Check your repository. Make sure git is installed and your working directory is a git repository.
- 4Stage your changes. Use git status and git diff to review changes, then stage the intended files with git add <file>.
- 5Ask for a commit. Tell the agent in plain language to commit your work, such as "commit my changes".
- 6Check the result. Run git log -1 afterwards to confirm the message and commit. The skill commits without confirmation, so review it.
What the skill makes the agent do
When you ask the agent to commit your work, this skill has it review your changed files first. It then writes a commit message using the Conventional Commits format: a short type prefix, an optional scope in parentheses, and a short imperative summary.
The skill's workflow checks the repository before committing. It runs git status to list changed files, then git diff or git diff --cached to inspect the changes, and then expects you to stage files with git add.
- Type must be one of: feat, fix, docs, style, refactor, perf, test, build, ci, chore, revert.
- Scope is optional but recommended for clarity.
- The description should use the imperative mood, for example "add" rather than "added".
- Body and footer are optional. Use the footer for breaking changes or issue references.
Install the skill from the ZIP
Download the ZIP for this skill from this page and unzip it. The skill folder contains a file named SKILL.md. Place the folder in one of these locations:
- Personal use across projects: ~/.claude/skills/
- A single project: the .claude/skills/ folder inside that project
- Claude apps: upload the ZIP under Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Ask for a commit in plain language
You do not need a special command. Once the skill is installed, ask the agent to commit your work in ordinary words. The skill is meant to be picked up when you ask for a commit, so phrasing such as "commit my changes" or "commit the work so far" is the natural trigger.
Make sure the files you want committed are staged first, or ask the agent to stage them, because the skill stages with git add <file> as part of its workflow.
- "Commit my changes to the parser."
- "Review what changed and commit it with a proper message."
- "Commit the staged UI fix."
Examples of messages it produces
The skill's examples show the target style. Each one follows the type(scope): description pattern, with the scope and body optional.
- feat(parser): add ability to parse arrays
- fix(ui): correct button alignment
- docs: update README with usage instructions
- refactor: improve performance of data processing
- chore: update dependencies
- feat!: send email on registration (BREAKING CHANGE: email service required)
git commit -m "type(scope): description"Requirements and safety notes
The skill needs git installed and a git repository in the working directory. It also needs an agent environment with terminal access, since it runs git commands. The skill runs scripts and does not use the network, according to its listing.
Be careful with the no-confirmation step. The skill's instructions say the agent will run git commit in the terminal without asking first. If staging was wrong, an unintended change can be recorded. Check git status and git diff --cached yourself before you ask for a commit.
- Stage only the files you intend to commit.
- Keep the skill for projects that follow Conventional Commits.
- Do not use it where commit messages must be written by a human under review rules.
Tips for better results
The skill is strict about the format, so it works best when the change is clear. If your project uses a different convention, the agent may not adapt on its own, so a different skill or manual messages are a better fit.
- Stage a focused set of changes so the summary stays short and accurate.
- Use a footer such as BREAKING CHANGE: details when a change breaks compatibility.
- Review the message the agent drafts before it runs if you want a check on wording.
What people use it for
- Keeping a solo project's commit history consistent without remembering the type prefixes.
- Making a team's agent-driven commits match the Conventional Commits specification.
- Recording a breaking change with the feat! prefix and a BREAKING CHANGE footer.
- Committing small focused fixes from an agent terminal session with short, scannable summaries.
Frequently asked questions
Is the conventional commit agent skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence in the github/awesome-copilot repository. Check the licence file there for the full terms.
What does the conventional-commit skill require?
It requires git installed, a git repository in the working directory, and an agent environment with terminal access so it can run git commands. The skill runs scripts and does not use the network.
How do I install an agent skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Put the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Will the skill ask me before committing?
Its instructions say the agent runs git commit without asking for confirmation. Stage and check your files first, because a wrong staging choice will be recorded.
Can I use this skill with a different commit convention?
Not reliably. The skill enforces Conventional Commits, and the agent may not adapt to another convention on its own. Use a different approach if your project uses another format.
What is the Conventional Commits format?
It is a message style with a type such as feat or fix, an optional scope in parentheses, a colon, and a short imperative summary. The skill points to the Conventional Commits v1.0.0 specification for the allowed types.
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Our verdict
Use this skill if you want consistent Conventional Commits history and you commit from an agent terminal session in a git repository. Skip it if your project uses another commit convention, if your team requires human-written messages, or if you want to approve every commit before it runs.
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