Git is not only a powerful tool for managing code, but it also allows you to automate tasks using hooks. Hooks are scripts that run automatically at certain points in the Git lifecycle, such as before a commit or after a push. In this chapter, we will learn how hooks work, how to set them up, and some practical cases where hooks can improve your workflow.

What are Git Hooks?

Hooks in Git are scripts that execute automatically in response to specific events. For example, you can set up a hook that runs a test suite before every commit or sends notifications every time someone pushes to the remote repository.

Each Git repository has a .git/hooks directory that contains templates for various hooks. These hooks can be:

• Client-side hooks: Run on your local machine in response to actions like committing or changing branches.
• Server-side hooks: Run on the server and control actions like receiving a push or updating a remote repository.

Setting Up Hooks

To create a hook, simply edit or create a script in the .git/hooks directory. For example, to create a hook that runs before each commit, edit the pre-commit file and add your commands.

A basic example of a pre-commit hook that checks code style could be:

bash

To make the hook executable, be sure to give it execution permissions:

bash

Common Hooks

Some of the most common hooks you can use include:

• pre-commit: Runs before Git creates a commit. Useful for checking code, running tests, or validating commit messages.
• pre-push: Runs before pushing to the remote repository. Can be used to ensure there are no code errors before sharing it with others.
• post-merge: Runs after a merge. You can use this hook to clean temporary files or run build scripts.

Pre-push Hook for Running Tests

A useful example of a pre-push hook is running a test suite before pushing code to a remote repository. This ensures that the code you're uploading won't break the project.

Create the file .git/hooks/pre-push and add the following script:

bash

Server-side Hooks

In addition to client-side hooks, Git allows setting up server-side hooks to manage actions on remote repositories. These hooks are useful when working in a collaborative environment and you want to enforce rules for all collaborators.

A common example is the post-receive hook, which runs after receiving a push on the server. You can use this hook to automatically deploy an application or send notifications to collaborators.

bash

Using Hooks to Enhance Workflow

Hooks can automate many tasks that you would otherwise have to do manually. Some examples of how hooks can improve your workflow include:

• Validation of commit messages: Ensure that all commits follow a specific format to maintain a clean and consistent history.
• Automatic test execution: Ensure that no commit breaks the code by automatically running tests before a push.
• Automatic deployment: Use server-side hooks to deploy code automatically after receiving a push on the server.

Conclusion

In this chapter, we've explored how to use hooks in Git to automate tasks and improve your workflow. Whether you use them to run tests, validate code style, or notify other developers, hooks are a powerful tool that can save time and reduce errors. In the next chapter, we will discuss best practices for working with Git in large teams and how to maintain a clean and organized commit history.