Skip to main content
ubuntuask.com

Back to all posts

How to Change `Git Merge --Squash` Default Template on Local Merge?

Published on
6 min read
How to Change `Git Merge --Squash` Default Template on Local Merge? image

Best Git Tools to Buy in October 2025

1 Learning Git: A Hands-On and Visual Guide to the Basics of Git

Learning Git: A Hands-On and Visual Guide to the Basics of Git

BUY & SAVE
$34.92 $45.99
Save 24%
Learning Git: A Hands-On and Visual Guide to the Basics of Git
2 Version Control with Git: Powerful Tools and Techniques for Collaborative Software Development

Version Control with Git: Powerful Tools and Techniques for Collaborative Software Development

BUY & SAVE
$43.23 $65.99
Save 34%
Version Control with Git: Powerful Tools and Techniques for Collaborative Software Development
3 Professional Git

Professional Git

BUY & SAVE
$24.79 $52.00
Save 52%
Professional Git
4 Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and techniques for collaborative software development

Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and techniques for collaborative software development

  • AFFORDABLE PRICES ON QUALITY USED BOOKS FOR BUDGET-SAVVY READERS.
  • ECO-FRIENDLY CHOICE: PROMOTE RECYCLING WITH EVERY BOOK PURCHASE.
  • DISCOVER HIDDEN GEMS: UNIQUE TITLES YOU WON'T FIND IN STORES!
BUY & SAVE
$42.44 $44.99
Save 6%
Version Control with Git: Powerful tools and techniques for collaborative software development
5 Head First Git: A Learner's Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out

Head First Git: A Learner's Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out

BUY & SAVE
$50.99 $79.99
Save 36%
Head First Git: A Learner's Guide to Understanding Git from the Inside Out
6 Git Commands Cheat Sheet Reference Guide – Essential Git Command Quick Guide for Beginners Developers

Git Commands Cheat Sheet Reference Guide – Essential Git Command Quick Guide for Beginners Developers

BUY & SAVE
$14.99
Git Commands Cheat Sheet Reference Guide – Essential Git Command Quick Guide for Beginners Developers
7 Pro Git

Pro Git

BUY & SAVE
$31.02 $59.99
Save 48%
Pro Git
8 Git Prodigy: Mastering Version Control with Git and GitHub

Git Prodigy: Mastering Version Control with Git and GitHub

BUY & SAVE
$19.00
Git Prodigy: Mastering Version Control with Git and GitHub
+
ONE MORE?

To change the default template used by git merge --squash on local merges, you can modify the default commit message template file located at .git/message in your local repository. This file contains the default message that Git uses when squashing commits during a merge. Simply edit the contents of this file to change the default template that is used during squashed merges. Make sure to save your changes after editing the file.

How to customize the behavior of the squashed merge in git to fit specific project requirements?

To customize the behavior of the squashed merge in Git to fit specific project requirements, you can use the following options:

  1. Use the --squash flag when merging: By using the --squash flag when merging branches, you can combine all the changes from the source branch into a single, new commit on the target branch. This can help keep a clean and concise commit history, which is useful for projects with strict requirements for commit messages and history.
  2. Use a custom merge strategy: Git allows you to define custom merge strategies using the git-merge command, which can be used to customize the way in which branches are merged. You can create a custom merge strategy that defines how conflicts are resolved, which commits are included in the merge, and other aspects of the merging process.
  3. Use Git hooks: Git hooks allow you to customize the behavior of various Git commands, including merging. You can use pre-merge and post-merge hooks to execute custom scripts or commands before and after a merge operation, allowing you to perform additional actions or checks as needed for your project requirements.
  4. Use Git aliases: Git aliases allow you to define custom commands that can be used as shortcuts for common Git operations. You can define an alias for squashing merges with a specific set of options or behaviors that fit your project requirements, making it easier to perform customized merges.

By using these options and techniques, you can customize the behavior of the squashed merge in Git to better fit the specific requirements of your project. This can help you maintain a clean and organized commit history, resolve conflicts more effectively, and integrate changes in a way that meets the needs of your project.

How to monitor and analyze the impact of squashed git merges on project milestones and goals?

Monitoring and analyzing the impact of squashed git merges on project milestones and goals can be crucial for ensuring a successful project delivery. Here are some steps to help you effectively track and assess this impact:

  1. Define project milestones and goals: Start by clearly outlining the project milestones and goals that you want to achieve. This will serve as a benchmark for measuring the impact of squashed git merges on the project.
  2. Utilize project management tools: Use project management tools such as Jira, Trello, or Asana to track the progress of your project. These tools can help you visualize the impact of squashed git merges on the project timeline and identify any potential bottlenecks.
  3. Monitor git merge activity: Keep track of the git merge activity in your project repository. You can use tools like GitKraken, GitLab, or GitHub to monitor merge requests, track commit history, and view squashed merge commits.
  4. Analyze code changes: Review the code changes introduced by squashed git merges to understand their impact on project milestones and goals. Look for any potential conflicts, regressions, or performance issues caused by the merge.
  5. Conduct code reviews: Regularly conduct code reviews to ensure that the squashed git merges are of high quality and meet the project requirements. This will help you identify and address any issues early on in the development process.
  6. Measure project metrics: Use project metrics such as code coverage, bug count, and build status to measure the impact of squashed git merges on the project. This will give you insights into the overall health and progress of the project.
  7. Seek feedback from the team: Encourage open communication within the team to gather feedback on the impact of squashed git merges. This can help you identify any issues or concerns early on and make necessary adjustments to ensure project success.

By following these steps, you can effectively monitor and analyze the impact of squashed git merges on project milestones and goals, helping you deliver a successful project on time and within budget.

What is the difference between a fast-forward merge and a squashed merge in git?

A fast-forward merge is a simple merge operation in Git where the branch being merged in has all of its commits directly added to the master branch without creating a new merge commit. This can happen when the branched commits can be linearly added to the master branch.

On the other hand, a squashed merge is a merge operation in Git where all the commits on the branch being merged in are combined into a single new commit before being added to the master branch. This can be useful to keep a clean commit history when merging feature branches into the main branch.

In summary, the main difference between a fast-forward merge and a squashed merge is how the commits from the branch being merged in are handled and added to the master branch.

What is the difference between git merge --squash and regular git merge?

The main difference between git merge --squash and regular git merge lies in how the changes from the branches are incorporated.

  • git merge: This command combines the entire commit history of the two branches being merged. This means that individual commits from the source branch are brought into the target branch, maintaining a complete history of how the changes were made.
  • git merge --squash: This command condenses all the commits from the source branch into a single commit before merging it into the target branch. This results in a cleaner history in the target branch, as all the changes from the source branch are consolidated into a single commit.

In summary, git merge preserves the commit history of the source branch when merging, while git merge --squash combines all the changes into a single commit in the target branch.