Dev

Dummy Git Commit Message Generator

A dummy git commit message generator saves hours when you need a convincing commit history for demos, tutorials, or test repositories. Instead of hand-crafting dozens of fake log entries, you can generate up to 50 realistic commit messages in seconds — formatted as conventional commits, casual one-liners, or verbose multi-line descriptions. Each output includes randomised short hashes and plausible timestamps so screenshots and recordings look authentic. Developers commonly reach for fake commit histories when building portfolio projects that need a lived-in look, recording screencasts where a sparse log would distract viewers, or stress-testing tools that parse git logs. The generator covers the full range of commit types: features, bug fixes, chores, refactors, docs updates, and performance improvements. You control three key variables: how many commits to generate, which style to use, and whether to include the short hash prefix. Conventional commit format is ideal if you are demonstrating commitlint workflows or changelog tooling. The casual style suits general tutorials where strict prefixes would feel out of place. Verbose mode adds body text, useful when showing git log --format=full output. Because the messages are generated client-side and never stored, you can iterate freely — regenerate until the mix of commit types and wording feels right for your use case, then copy the block directly into your README, slide deck, or mock terminal recording.

How to Use

  1. Set the count field to the number of commit messages you need, between 1 and 50.
  2. Choose a commit style: conventional for typed prefixes, casual for plain messages, or verbose for commits with a body.
  3. Toggle the include hash option to show or hide the short SHA prefix on each line.
  4. Click Generate to produce the commit history, then review the output for a mix you are happy with.
  5. Copy the full block or individual lines and paste them into your demo repo script, slide, or documentation.

Use Cases

  • •Populating a portfolio GitHub repo with a realistic-looking commit history
  • •Recording a git workflow screencast without exposing real project commits
  • •Testing a changelog generator that parses conventional commit prefixes
  • •Filling a CI/CD dashboard demo with believable pipeline trigger messages
  • •Teaching junior developers what a healthy conventional commit log looks like
  • •Generating sample data for a git analytics or visualisation tool
  • •Creating slide-deck screenshots showing feature branches and fix commits
  • •Mocking a git log output for a blog post or documentation example

Tips

  • →Generate two separate batches — one conventional, one casual — then manually interleave them to avoid a suspiciously uniform log.
  • →If screenshotting, generate exactly 8 to 12 commits so the full list fits in one terminal window without scrolling.
  • →Turn hashes off when using messages as raw git commit -m input; turn them on for terminal screenshot realism.
  • →Edit only the scope token in conventional commits (the word in parentheses) to instantly tailor messages to your project's domain.
  • →Use the verbose style when demonstrating git log --stat or GitHub's commit detail view, where a body paragraph looks expected.
  • →For changelog tool demos, generate 20 or more commits so the resulting changelog has multiple sections — fixes, features, and chores.

FAQ

What are conventional commits and why do they matter?

Conventional commits follow the format type(scope): description — for example feat(auth): add OAuth2 login. Tools like semantic-release and conventional-changelog parse these prefixes to automate version bumps and changelog entries. Using a consistent format also makes it easier for teammates to scan a log and understand what changed at a glance.

Are the generated commit hashes real git hashes?

No. The hashes are randomly generated 7-character hexadecimal strings designed to look like the short SHA git displays in git log --oneline output. They have no cryptographic relationship to any actual commit object. Do not use them in scripts that query a real repository.

Can I paste these messages into a real git commit?

Yes — copy any message and use it verbatim with git commit -m. You should edit the scope and description to reflect your actual change, but the structure is valid. For conventional commits, the prefix (feat, fix, chore, etc.) is already correctly formatted for commitlint and semantic-release.

What is the difference between the commit styles available?

Conventional style uses typed prefixes (feat, fix, refactor) with optional scopes — best for tooling demos. Casual style produces natural-language messages without prefixes, mimicking how many developers commit in practice. Verbose style adds a body paragraph below the subject line, useful when demonstrating git log formats that display full commit bodies.

How do I make the commit history look like a specific project?

Generate a batch, then manually edit the scope tokens — for example, changing (api) to (checkout) or (auth) — to match your project's domain. Because the action verbs and sentence structures are already realistic, small scope edits are usually enough to make the log feel project-specific without rewriting every line.

Can I use these commits to populate a git repository automatically?

Yes — copy the messages into a shell script and loop through them with git commit --allow-empty -m. The --allow-empty flag creates a commit without requiring file changes. This lets you build a realistic-looking git log in an empty repo in under a minute, perfect for demo repositories or teaching exercises.

How many commits should I generate for a realistic-looking history?

For a single-feature branch, 5 to 10 commits looks natural. For a main branch covering several weeks of work, 20 to 40 gives a convincing density. Avoid generating the maximum 50 in a single style with no variation — mix a batch of conventional commits with a separate casual batch, then interleave them manually for a more authentic result.