Re: [PATCH] commit & merge: modularize the empty message validator

Kaartic Sivaraam [off-list ref] writes:

Sometimes I abort an commit from from the editor by providing an empty
commit message. Then I came to know that 'git commit' considers commit
messages with just signed-off-by lines as an empty message. I tried to
take advantage of that. I once tried to abort a merge by just removing
the "Merge ..." line and leaving the "Signed-off" line and was
surprised to see the merge happen instead of an abort. The rest is
history. :)

I think many people know about and do use the "delete all lines"
(i.e. ":1,$d" in vi, or \M-< \C-SPC \M-> \C-w in Emacs) to abort out
of a commit or a merge.  I just do not think it is likely for them
to leave Sign-off lines and remove everything else, which is more
work than to delete everything, hence my reaction.