🧭 GoCommit Roadmap & Philosophy

“Every commit is a moment of reflection — a trace of intent, not just change.”

This roadmap outlines the evolution of GoCommit, from a simple AI-powered commit message helper to a mindful, delightful developer companion.

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⚙️ Phase 0 — Custom Templates & Config

🎯 Goal: Empower users with personalization and control

• [ ] Config File (.gocommitrc / YAML / JSON)
  • Define default commit types (feat, fix, chore, etc.)
  • Map scopes by folder or pattern (db/* → chore(db))
  • Choose tone, language, message length, and AI backend.
• [ ] Template Engine
  • Custom header/body/footer formats using placeholders:

    header: "{{type}}({{scope}}): {{summary}}"
    body: |
      Reason: {{why}}
      Impact: {{impact}}

  • Optional commit body generation with “why” and “intent” sections.
• [ ] Repository Overrides
  • .gocommitrc in each repo overrides global config.
• [ ] CLI Shortcuts
  • gocommit config set tone=zen
  • gocommit config edit (opens default editor).

🧩 “Before automation comes awareness — define your own meaning first.”

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🚀 Phase 1 — Interactive Mode ✅ COMPLETED

🎯 Goal: Improve usability & feedback loop

• [x] Interactive prompt after AI suggestion:
  • Accept / Edit / Re-generate (alternate tone or shorter version).
  • Preview diff + generated message side-by-side.
• [x] Optional "auto-commit" flag for fast workflows.

Implementation Details:

• Interactive prompt with 5 actions: Accept, Edit, Regenerate, Diff, Quit
• Split-screen diff view showing changes and message side-by-side
• Regeneration loop that generates → select → interactive → repeat
• Color-coded diff display (green +, red -, cyan @@)
• --auto and -y flags to skip interactive prompt
• Seamless integration in workflow with goto-based flow control

🧠 "Before you commit, consider if your change has a place in the story."

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🔍 Phase 2 — Quality & Model Management

🎯 Goal: Handle diverse AI models and ensure quality

• [ ] Quality Validation System
  • Automatic quality scoring (1-10) for generated messages.
  • Detect generic messages: "update files", "fix stuff" → reject & retry.
  • Auto-retry with enhanced prompts if quality is low.
  • Validation rules: scope required, minimum description length, etc.
• [ ] Multi-Tier Model Support
  • High-end models: Claude Sonnet, GPT-4 (⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ quality, $$ cost)
  • Mid-tier models: GPT-4o-mini, Claude Haiku (⭐⭐⭐⭐ quality, $ cost)
  • Local models: Ollama, CodeLlama (⭐⭐⭐ quality, free)
  • Configure per project or per commit type.
• [ ] Adaptive Model Selection
  • Use cheap models for simple changes (docs, README).
  • Use expensive models for complex code changes.
  • Triggers: file count, line changes, file types, presence of tests.
  • Show cost estimation before committing.
• [ ] Weak Model Enhancement
  • Strict templates: Force format for weaker models.
  • Progressive generation: Generate in steps (type → scope → summary → body).
  • Template wizard: Interactive fallback when AI fails.
  • Learned style guide: Analyze repo history to learn commit patterns.
• [ ] Hybrid Strategy
  • Try local model first (free, fast).
  • Auto-upgrade to cloud model if confidence < 60%.
  • User can manually trigger upgrade.
  • Show confidence score and quality indicators.
• [ ] Human-in-the-Loop
  • Always show preview for weak models.
  • Highlight potential issues (missing scope, too generic).
  • Suggest improvements inline.
  • Never auto-commit with low confidence scores.

🎯 "Quality is not an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort." — John Ruskin

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🌈 Phase 3 — Personality & Delight

🎯 Goal: Make commits fun and human

• [ ] Tone Modes
  • --mode=zen, --mode=funny, --mode=pirate, --mode=minimal.
  • Each mode generates commits in its own expressive style.
• [ ] Humor & Easter Eggs
  • Playful verbs or ASCII art feedback.
  • Optional “fortune mode”: prints a haiku or quote after commit.

🧘 "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." — Leonardo da Vinci

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📊 Phase 4 — Reflection & Feedback

🎯 Goal: Help users see their commit patterns

• [ ] Analytics Dashboard
  • gocommit stats → shows commit counts, types, length, etc.
  • Local summary or optional export for visualization.
• [ ] Gamification
  • Fun badges:
    • 🏅 “Commit Grandmaster” (100 commits)
    • 🔥 “Fix Fiend” (50 fixes)
  • Optional: ASCII fireworks for milestones.

💬 "Measure what you commit — not for vanity, but for growth."

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☯ Phase 5 — Philosophy Integration

🎯 Goal: Embed mindfulness into the developer’s flow

• [ ] Reflection Prompt
  • Before commit: short pause — “Is this change meaningful?”
  • Display random philosophical or developer quote.
• [ ] Mindfulness Mode
  • --pause: a brief breathing space before confirming commit.
• [ ] Ethical Reminder
  • Encourage clarity, honesty, and purpose in messages.

🪶 "Code fades, intent remains."

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📖 Phase 6 — Documentation & Legacy

🎯 Goal: Tell the story behind the tool

• [ ] README Update
  • Add “Why We Wrote This” section — the philosophy behind GoCommit.
• [ ] Dev.to Blog Post
  • “GoCommit: Writing Commit Messages Like a Philosopher.”
  • Share reasoning, architecture, and lessons learned.

🪷 “We don’t just automate the message — we elevate the meaning.”

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🛠️ Summary of Priorities

Priority	Feature	Type	Status
1	Custom templates/config	Personalization	🏁 In progress
2	Interactive mode	Core UX	⏳ Planned
3	Quality & model management	Reliability	🔥 Critical
4	Tone modes (funny/zen/pirate)	Delight	🔜 Next
5	Analytics & gamification	Reflection	🧩 Later
6	Philosophical layer	Spirit	🌙 Optional

🎯 Implementation Focus Areas

Phase 0-2 (MVP - Core Functionality)

• Config system for customization
• Interactive commit workflow
• Quality validation & multi-model support
• Essential for production use

Phase 3-4 (Enhanced Experience)

• Personality modes & delight
• Analytics & reflection
• User engagement features

Phase 5-6 (Polish & Community)

• Philosophical integration
• Documentation & outreach
• Long-term vision

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Created by: @thanhphuchuynh
Project: GoCommit
Last updated: 2025-11-01

“Each commit is a dialogue between you and your future self.”