Codex Git Commit Message Generator

Generate high-quality Conventional Commit messages from your Git diff directly in the VS Code Source Control input box.

Overview

Commit messages should be clear, consistent, and quick to write. This extension removes repetitive manual work by generating a concise commit message from your current repository changes and placing it exactly where you commit.

The result is faster commits, cleaner history, and fewer context switches during development.

Developer Value

• Reduces time spent writing commit messages for routine changes.
• Keeps commit style consistent across contributors and pull requests.
• Works inside the standard Source Control workflow without extra tooling.
• Supports model selection and debugging to fit different team needs.

What’s New

• Model selection in settings to choose which Codex model generates messages.
• Debug logging mode to inspect command execution, prompt preview, CLI output, and final model response.
• Existing support for staged/unstaged source selection and optional recent commit style context.

Key Features

• One-click generation from Source Control title action.
• Command Palette support.
• Conventional Commit output (feat, fix, chore, etc.).
• Configurable diff source: staged, unstaged, or both.
• Optional style guidance from recent commit messages.
• Safe fallback messages when Codex CLI is unavailable.

Requirements

• VS Code 1.85.0 or newer
• Git available in your shell
• Codex CLI (codex) available in PATH (or configured executable path)
• macOS (darwin)

Usage

1. Open a Git repository in VS Code.
2. Make staged and/or unstaged changes.
3. Run Generate Commit Message:
   • Source Control title action (sparkle icon), or
   • Command Palette (Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P)
4. Review the generated message in the SCM input box.
5. Commit as usual.

Command

• Generate Commit Message (thewebmonk.git.generateCommitMessage)

Settings

• codex-git-commit-message.config.core.codexExecutablePath
  • Custom path to codex if not available in your default PATH.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.core.model
  • Selects the Codex model used for generation.
  • Default uses your Codex CLI profile/default model.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.core.maxDiffChars
  • Maximum diff size included in model context.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.core.debugLogging
  • Enables verbose logs in Output channel codex commit gen.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.source.sourceOfChanges
  • Choose staged, unstaged, or both.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.previousCommit.includePreviousCommitMessages
  • Adds recent commit subjects as style context.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.previousCommit.previousCommitMessagesCount
  • Number of recent commit messages to include.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.previousCommit.includePreviousCommitMessagesByCurrentAuthor
  • Adds recent commit subjects by current author.
• codex-git-commit-message.config.previousCommit.previousCommitMessagesByCurrentAuthorCount
  • Number of current-author commit messages to include.

Debug Logging

When debugLogging is enabled, the extension writes diagnostic data to Output channel codex commit gen, including:

• Selected model and runtime settings
• Prompt preview (truncated)
• Executed Codex command arguments
• Codex CLI stdout and stderr
• Final message returned by the model

Use this mode to troubleshoot model behavior, command execution, or environment issues.

How It Works

1. Collects repository diffs based on your selected source mode.
2. Builds a constrained prompt for a single-line Conventional Commit message.
3. Executes codex exec with your configured model/path settings.
4. Reads the generated output and writes it to the SCM input box.
5. Falls back to deterministic safe messages if AI generation is unavailable.

Fallback formats:

• chore: update <file>
• chore: update <N> files
• chore: update repository

Troubleshooting

• No git repository is available
  • Open a workspace that contains a .git repository.
• Failed to run Codex
  • Verify installation with command -v codex.
  • Configure codexExecutablePath if needed.
• Output channel not visible
  • Enable debugLogging, run Generate Commit Message, then open Output channel codex commit gen.
• Empty or unexpected message
  • Verify staged/unstaged diff state and retry.
  • Use debug logging to inspect prompt and Codex output.

License

MIT