---
name: git-workspace-hygiene
description: Maintain safe, low-noise Git workflows for OpenClaw workspaces. Use when initializing repository tracking, creating secure .gitignore rules, making clean checkpoint commits, reviewing diffs, preventing secret leaks, and preparing rollback-friendly history.
---

# Git Workspace Hygiene

## Goals

- Keep change history clear and reversible.
- Prevent accidental commits of secrets and noisy runtime files.
- Encourage small, meaningful checkpoints.

## Setup workflow

1. Ensure repository exists (`git init` if missing).
2. Create/update `.gitignore` with workspace-safe defaults.
3. Verify ignored files include credentials, env files, logs, and transient runtime state.
4. Stage intended files only.
5. Create baseline commit.

## Commit hygiene rules

- Prefer small scoped commits (one concern per commit).
- Use Conventional Commits format: `<type>(<scope>): <summary>`.
  - Types: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `chore`, `refactor`, `test`, `build`, `ci`.
  - Examples: `chore(boot): harden startup checks`, `feat(skills): add inbox-triage`.
- Review `git diff --staged` before committing.
- Never commit tokens/secrets.

## Quick review routine

1. `git status --short`
2. `git diff --stat`
3. `git diff --staged`
4. Run secret/noise scan script: `skills/git-workspace-hygiene/scripts/precommit-scan.sh`
5. Commit only after clean scan

## Rollback playbook

- Inspect history: `git log --oneline --decorate -n 20`
- Undo last commit (keep changes): `git reset --soft HEAD~1`
- Restore a file from HEAD: `git restore <path>`
- Revert committed change safely: `git revert <commit>`

## Optional cadence

- Create end-of-day checkpoint commit if meaningful changes accumulated.
- Tag stable milestones (`git tag <name>`) when workflow is known-good.