getpkg/gp/IMPROVEMENTS.md

GP Script Improvements

Original Script Issues

The original gp script had several limitations and potential issues:

1. No error handling - Script could fail silently or in unexpected ways
2. Unsafe operations - Always commits and pushes without confirmation
3. Poor commit messages - Generated from diff first line, often meaningless
4. No flexibility - Hard-coded to push to main branch
5. No dry-run mode - No way to preview what would happen
6. Limited functionality - No help, version, or autocomplete support
7. Poor user experience - No colored output or informative messages

Improvements Made

1. Safety and Error Handling

• Strict error handling with set -euo pipefail
• Git repository validation before any operations
• Change detection to avoid empty commits
• User confirmation before committing (unless --force used)
• Proper error messages with colored output

2. Enhanced Functionality

• Dry-run mode (--dry-run/-n) to preview changes
• Custom commit messages - optional argument overrides auto-generation
• Branch selection (--branch/-b) to push to any branch
• Add-all option (--add-all/-a) to include untracked files
• Force mode (--force/-f) to skip confirmations

3. Smart Commit Message Generation

• File type detection - recognizes source, config, docs, and test files
• Change type analysis - detects additions, modifications, deletions
• Conventional commit style - uses prefixes like feat:, docs:, test:
• Intelligent descriptions - better context than original script

4. User Experience

• Colored output - different colors for info, warnings, errors, success
• Comprehensive help - detailed usage information and examples
• Status display - shows current branch, repository, and changes
• Progress feedback - clear indication of what's happening

5. Integration Features

• Version command - reports script version
• Autocomplete support - bash completion for options
• Standard CLI conventions - follows common command-line patterns

Usage Examples

Basic Usage

gp                          # Auto-generate commit message and push
gp "Fix parser bug"         # Use custom commit message

Advanced Usage

gp --dry-run                # Preview what would be committed
gp --add-all                # Include untracked files
gp --branch develop         # Push to develop branch
gp --force "Emergency fix"  # Skip confirmation prompt

Information Commands

gp --help                   # Show help
gp version                  # Show version
gp autocomplete             # Show completion options

Benefits

1. Safer - Prevents accidental commits and pushes
2. More flexible - Works with different workflows and branching strategies
3. Better commit history - Generates meaningful commit messages
4. User-friendly - Clear feedback and error messages
5. Professional - Follows CLI best practices and conventions
6. Maintainable - Well-structured code with proper error handling

Backward Compatibility

The improved script maintains backward compatibility:

• Running gp without arguments still auto-generates a commit message and pushes
• The basic workflow is unchanged
• New features are opt-in through command-line flags

Installation

1. Replace the original gp script with gp_improved
2. Ensure it's executable: chmod +x gp
3. The script works from any directory within a git repository