Git Workflow Hooks Skill

Install git hooks that prevent common workflow mistakes in your development process.

What This Does

Installs a pre-push git hook that:

• Blocks manual version tag pushes: Prevents pushing tags like v1.2.3 without using /plinth:releaserator
• Ensures proper release process: Guarantees changelog generation, version bumping, and release notes
• Provides clear error messages: Explains why the push was blocked and how to do it correctly
• Allows emergency override: Use git push --no-verify if you absolutely must bypass

When To Use This

Run this skill once per project to install the hooks:

• New projects: Set up workflow guardrails from the start
• After manual tag incidents: Prevent recurrence of accidentally pushing tags
• Team projects: Ensure all contributors follow the same release process

Implementation Steps

Step 1: Verify Git Repository

Check that we're in a git repository with a hooks directory:

# Check for .git directory
test -d .git && echo "GIT_REPO" || echo "NOT_GIT"

# Check hooks directory
test -d .git/hooks && echo "HOOKS_EXIST" || echo "HOOKS_MISSING"

Validation:

• MUST be in a git repository
  • If not: Error with "Not a git repository. Run this from the project root."
• Hooks directory MUST exist (it should by default)
  • If missing: Create it with mkdir -p .git/hooks

Step 2: Check for Existing pre-push Hook

Check if a pre-push hook already exists:

test -f .git/hooks/pre-push && echo "EXISTS" || echo "MISSING"

If hook exists:

1. Read the existing hook file
2. Check if it was installed by plinth (look for "Installed by: /plinth:git-workflow-hooks")
3. If plinth-installed: Ask user if they want to overwrite
4. If not plinth-installed: Stop and ask user how to proceed:
   • Backup existing hook and install ours
   • Append our hook logic to existing file
   • Skip installation

Example user prompt (if non-plinth hook exists):

⚠️ Existing pre-push hook detected

Your .git/hooks/pre-push file already contains a hook that wasn't installed by plinth.

How would you like to proceed?

1. Backup existing hook to .git/hooks/pre-push.backup and install plinth hook
2. Skip installation (keep existing hook)

Choose an option (1-2):

Step 3: Install pre-push Hook

Copy the hook from the skill directory to the git hooks directory:

# Copy hook file
cp skills/git-workflow-hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push

# Make executable
chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-push

Verify installation:

# Check file exists
test -f .git/hooks/pre-push && echo "INSTALLED" || echo "FAILED"

# Check executable
test -x .git/hooks/pre-push && echo "EXECUTABLE" || echo "NOT_EXECUTABLE"

If backup was requested (from Step 2):

# Backup existing hook first
cp .git/hooks/pre-push .git/hooks/pre-push.backup

Step 4: Test Hook Installation

Verify the hook works by checking its output:

# Test that the hook script is valid bash
bash -n .git/hooks/pre-push && echo "VALID" || echo "SYNTAX_ERROR"

If syntax error: Report the error and suggest manual inspection.

Step 5: Report Success

Display installation summary to user:

✅ Git workflow hooks installed successfully!

**Installed hooks**:
- pre-push: Blocks manual version tag pushes

**What this means**:
- You cannot push version tags (v*.*.*)  directly
- Use /plinth:releaserator to create releases properly
- Emergency override: git push --no-verify

**Testing the hook**:
Try pushing a version tag to see it in action:
  git tag v99.99.99
  git push origin v99.99.99
  (This should be blocked with a helpful error message)

**Removing the hook**:
If you need to uninstall:
  rm .git/hooks/pre-push

If backup was created:

Add to output:

**Backup created**:
- Your original hook saved to: .git/hooks/pre-push.backup

Hook Behavior Details

Pre-Push Hook

Triggers: When you run git push

Checks:

1. Is this a tag push? (refs/tags/*)
2. Does the tag match version pattern? (v*..)

Action if match:

• Block the push (exit 1)
• Display error message with:
  • What was blocked
  • Why it was blocked
  • Correct way to do it (/plinth:releaserator)
  • Emergency override (--no-verify)

Allows:

• All branch pushes
• Non-version tags (v0.0.1-alpha, feature-tags, etc. are allowed)
• Pushes with --no-verify flag

Version tag pattern:

^v[0-9]+\.[0-9]+\.[0-9]+

Matches:

• v1.0.0 ✓
• v1.2.3 ✓
• v10.20.30 ✓

Does not match:

• v1.0.0-alpha ✗ (pre-release allowed)
• v1.0.0-rc.1 ✗ (release candidate allowed)
• feature-v1 ✗ (not a version tag)
• 1.0.0 ✗ (missing v prefix)

This intentionally allows pre-release tags since they may have different workflows.

Error Handling

Not a Git Repository

Error: No .git directory found

Message:

❌ Not a git repository

This skill must be run from the root of a git repository.

Run: git init

Action: Exit without making changes

Non-Plinth Hook Exists

Warning: Existing pre-push hook not installed by plinth

Message:

⚠️ Existing pre-push hook detected

Your .git/hooks/pre-push file contains a hook not installed by plinth.

Action: Ask user how to proceed (backup vs skip)

Hook Installation Failed

Error: Failed to copy or chmod hook

Message:

❌ Failed to install pre-push hook

Could not copy hook file to .git/hooks/pre-push or make it executable.

Check permissions on .git/hooks/ directory.

Action: Report failure and suggest manual inspection

Hook Syntax Error

Error: Hook file has bash syntax error

Message:

❌ Hook has syntax errors

The installed hook at .git/hooks/pre-push has bash syntax errors.

Please report this issue: https://github.com/pborenstein/plinth/issues

Action: Report error but don't remove hook (let user inspect)

Future Enhancements

This skill can be extended with additional hooks:

Pre-Commit Hook Ideas

• Prevent docs/ commits without session-wrapup: Remind user to use /plinth:session-wrapup
• Block .DS_Store commits: Auto-add to .gitignore instead
• Check for merge conflict markers: Prevent accidental commits of <<<<<<

Commit-Msg Hook Ideas

• Enforce conventional commits: Validate commit message format
• Suggest using releaserator: If message is "bump version" or similar

Post-Merge Hook Ideas

• Remind to run session-pickup: After pulling changes, suggest reading context
• Check for dependency updates: Alert if package.json changed

Adding new hooks:

1. Create new hook script in skills/git-workflow-hooks/
2. Update Step 3 to install multiple hooks
3. Document the new hook in this file
4. Test on real projects

Success Criteria

After running this skill, verify:

• ✅ pre-push hook installed at .git/hooks/pre-push
• ✅ Hook is executable (-x permission)
• ✅ Hook contains plinth identification comment
• ✅ Hook blocks version tag pushes (test with dummy tag)
• ✅ Hook allows normal branch pushes
• ✅ Hook displays helpful error messages
• ✅ Emergency override works (--no-verify)
• ✅ Existing hooks backed up if present