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Git Ops Habits for Solo Creators

1 min read
  • #Git
  • #Productivity
  • #Indie Makers

Treat your repo like a product backlog

Even when I'm the only contributor, I keep a CHANGELOG.md and a running list of TODO issues. Every commit references one of those TODOs. This habit keeps context alive when I return after a few weeks and can't remember why a branch exists.

Branch off main, merge fast

  • Create a branch per feature or bug fix.
  • Keep branches under ~150 lines of diff.
  • Merge or delete within a week.

Small, frequent merges reduce the cognitive load of rebasing and make it safe to experiment.

Automate boring checks

Git hooks are your best friend:

#!/bin/shpnpm lintpnpm test

Drop that into .git/hooks/pre-commit and even solo projects gain a safety net. Pair hooks with GitHub Actions or simple cron jobs to run integration tests nightly.

Document decisions in commit messages

A good commit message answers three questions:

  1. What changed? Summarize in 50 characters.
  2. Why? Provide a sentence or two of context in the body.
  3. How to verify? Mention the test or manual step.

When I follow this format, I can roll back confidently because every commit feels like a mini change request.

Make releases feel real

  • Tag stable commits with semantic versions.
  • Generate release notes from the changelog.
  • Publish small updates regularly to build momentum.

Consistent Git discipline is the secret to making side projects feel like shipping products, even if you're the only person pushing commits.