:bulb: Why I use emojis in my Git commits
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:bulb: Why I use emojis in my Git commits

2020, Sep 28    

We use Emojis every day in different channels like Telegram, Slack, WhatsApp, Google Chats, … They are a fast way to communicate in this visual world. So I use them too in my git commits in the same way.

Around one year ago I started to use them after collaborate in a repo where some colleagues used emojis to give a visual summary of the commits. In my homuilde opinion writing git commit messages is an art that I am not doing well in many cases. Emojis help me to reduce the commit message and also add a visual message for others.

The UI of the most common and extended Git SCM integrates the emojis when you are browsing the repo, and the experience as a user is more clear, visual, fun and easy to follow. I used in different SCM such as:

  • GitHub: Full integrated :star2:.
  • GitLab: Very well integrated :star:.
  • Bitbucket: Very bad integration, but my commits have emojis :grin:.
  • Gitea: Enough integration (but I did few commits) :yum:.
  • Gogs: Enough integration (but I did few commits) :yum:.

Your repo could have a look and feel similar to:

Nice, right?

So after this time using them, I could conclude that the main reasons to continue is:

  • Be Cool? Hipster? Not at all
  • Simple visualization of the status of the repo
  • Funny documentation and easy to follow (not only in commits)
  • Simple and direct messages
  • Can I do it? Go ahead

Top List of emojis

The full list of emojis is so large, but after some time I have a top list of the most common emojis in my daily development.

I could summarize my top list of emojis in:

  • :tada: :tada:: Everything starts with the first commit.
  • :memo: :memo:: Documentation is important in any project.
  • :sparkles: :sparkles:: Adding new features in your project.
  • :bug: :bug:: Fixing your code … not always is working fine.
  • :fire: :fire:: Removing things.
  • :bookmark: :bookmark:: Releasing a version
  • :arrow_down: :arrow_up: :arrow_down: :arrow_up:: Managing your dependencies versions.
  • :recycle: :recycle:: Refactoring code.
  • :wrench: :wrench:: Configuring the project.
  • :twisted_rightwards_arrows: :twisted_rightwards_arrows:: Merging branches.
  • :truck: :truck:: Moving or renaming resources.
  • :bulb: :bulb:: Comments in the source code are always needed
  • :see_no_evil: :see_no_evil:: You don’t need to track everything (.gitignore is here)
  • :wastebasket: :wastebasket:: Deprecating or cleaning code

Choose your own ones.

Tools

I know that it is very hard to learn all the emojis available, however there are some useful tools to help you.

From my personal experience, I :cupid: gitmoji-cli by Carlos Cuesta. This is a simple, and easy CLI to add emojis in your commits. This tool includes helpers, searches to choose the right emoji before your commit or when your are committing:

The git repo has everything you need to start to use it.

Happy committing !!! :beers::construction_worker: