Git Hooks Generator

Generate git hook scripts (pre-commit, pre-push, commit-msg) with lint, test, and format checks.

Tested tool guide Tested browser tools Checked August 16, 2026

What Git Hooks Generator does and how it behaves

Git Hooks Generator assembles a hook script for one of three Git lifecycle points: pre-commit, pre-push, or commit-msg. You choose checks such as linting, tests, or formatting, then use the generated text as the corresponding repository hook. The frequent surprise is that generating a script does not install or distribute it. Git must be able to find and execute the saved hook, and ordinary clone operations do not copy a repository's local .git/hooks files.

How the result is produced

Hook timing

A pre-commit hook runs before Git creates a commit, while commit-msg receives the path to the proposed commit-message file. A pre-push hook runs after Git has determined which refs would be sent but before it transfers them. The generator places the selected lint, test, and format commands at the chosen checkpoint, so their exit status can control whether Git continues.

Installation and status

Git normally searches $GIT_DIR/hooks for a hook named exactly pre-commit, pre-push, or commit-msg, unless core.hooksPath specifies another location. The saved file must be executable and have an interpreter line suitable for the script. A zero exit status permits the operation to continue; a nonzero status from these hooks stops the associated commit or push.

Good uses

Create a pre-commit hook that rejects a local commit when a fast linter or test command reports an error.
Create a pre-push hook for checks that are too slow for every commit but should run before commits leave the developer's repository.
Create a commit-msg hook that passes Git's proposed message file to a project command that validates the required message structure.

Limits and checks

The generated hook is only as reliable as its commands. Missing executables, misspelled package scripts, or different developer environments can make the hook fail before a check runs.
A formatting command may edit worktree files without updating Git's index. A successful formatter therefore does not necessarily mean its edits are included in the commit being created.
Git's --no-verify option can bypass pre-commit and commit-msg during commit and pre-push during push, so these local hooks are not a substitute for required server-side or continuous-integration checks.

Common questions

Will the generated hook run for everyone who clones the repository?

No. Hooks in .git/hooks are local repository metadata and are not copied by a normal clone. For a team workflow, track hook files in the repository or use a hook manager, then add a separate installation or configuration step. The generator supplies script content; it does not make that rollout happen.

Can one installed hook file cover pre-commit, pre-push, and commit-msg?

No. Git looks for separate hook names at separate lifecycle points. Generate and install the hook needed at each point. They may invoke a shared project command, but pre-push and commit-msg also have different input contracts, so blindly reusing one script can misinterpret arguments or standard input.

References and verification

The behavioral notes were checked against the browser implementation. Standards and primary references below define the relevant format, formula, or platform behavior.