commit-helper

name commit-helper description Help create git commits and PRs with properly formatted messages and release notes following CockroachDB conventions. Use when committing changes or creating pull requests. CockroachDB Commit Helper Help the user create properly formatted commit messages and release notes that follow CockroachDB conventions. Workflow Analyze the changes : Run git diff --staged or git diff to understand what was modified Determine the package prefix : Identify the primary package affected Ask the user for: Issue/epic number if not already known Whether release notes are needed and what category fits best Write the subject line : Imperative mood, no period, under 72 characters Write the body : Explain the before/after, why the change was needed Add issue references : Include Resolves/Epic as appropriate Write the release note : Clear, user-focused description of the change Create the commit using the properly formatted message Commit Message Structure Basic Format: package: imperative title without period Detailed explanation of what changed, why it changed, and how it impacts users. Explain the problem that existed before and how this commit solves it. Include context about alternate approaches considered and any side effects or consequences. Resolves: #123 Epic: CRDB-357 Release note (category): Description of user-facing change in past or present tense explaining what changed, how users can see the change, and why it's important. Key Requirements: Must include release note annotation (even if "Release note: None") Must include issue or epic reference Must separate subject from body with blank line Recommended prefix subject with affected package/area Recommended use imperative mood in subject (e.g. "fix bug" not "fixes bug") Recommended wrap body at 72-100 characters Release Note Categories When to include release notes: Changes to user interaction or experience Changes to product behavior (performance, command responses, architecture) Bug fixes affecting external users When to exclude release notes: Internal refactors, testing, infrastructure work Code that's too immature for docs (private preview features) Internal settings beginning with crdb_internal. Functionality not accessible to external users Valid Categories: backward-incompatible change - Breaking changes to stable interfaces enterprise change - Features requiring enterprise license ops change - Commands/endpoints for operators (logging, metrics, CLI flags) cli change - Commands for developers/contributors (SQL shells, debug tools) sql change - SQL statements, functions, system catalogs ui change - DB Console changes security update - Security feature changes performance improvement - Performance enhancements cluster virtualization - Multi-tenancy infrastructure bug fix - Problem fixes general change - Changes that don't fit elsewhere build change - Source build requirements Release Note Best Practices Description guidelines: Default to more information rather than less Explain what changed, how it changed, and why it's relevant Use past tense ("Added", "Fixed") or present tense ("CockroachDB now supports") For bug fixes: describe cause, symptoms, and affected versions Note if change is part of broader roadmap feature Examples: Good bug fix: Release note (bug fix): Fixed a bug introduced in v19.2.3 that caused duplicate rows in CREATE TABLE ... AS results when multiple nodes attempt to populate the results. Good feature: Release note (enterprise change): Shortened the default interval for the kv.closed_timestamp.target_duration cluster setting from 30s to 3s. This allows follower reads at 4.8 seconds in the past, a much shorter window than the previous 48 seconds. Issue References Resolves: #123 - Auto-closes issue on PR merge See also: #456, #789 - Cross-references issues Epic: CRDB-357 - Links to epic How to Avoid Common Pitfalls Always include a release note annotation (even "Release note: None") Use only valid category names from the list above Keep release notes focused on user-facing information Write specific descriptions that explain the impact to users Use backward-incompatible change category for any breaking changes End subject lines without punctuation Explain the "why" behind changes, not just the "what" Pull Request Guidelines Create PRs from your personal fork , not directly on cockroachdb/cockroach Single-commit PRs : PR title should match commit title, PR body should match commit body Multi-commit PRs : The body should summarize the end goal that the set of commits achieves and give the reader the context necessary to review the PR commit by commit (for example, the first commits might get refactors out of the way so that the last commit can hook everything up). When there isn't an overarching connection between the commits (maybe the PR groups a few mechanical changes that are not related) it is fine to say that the individual commits speak for themselves.