---
id: gitlint
version: "0.19.1"
license: unclear
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: dormant
---

# gitlint — Git commit message linter written in python, checks your commit messages for style.

License: permissive · Maintenance: dormant · Downloads: 831.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Gitlint is a Python-based linter for Git commit messages that enforces style conventions at the point of commit. It runs as a command-line tool or Git hook and checks commit messages against a set of configurable rules—catching issues like line length violations, missing subject lines, or improper formatting before they reach your repository.

The package depends only on gitlint-core and supports Python 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, and 3.11 on CPython and PyPy. It has been in production use since its early releases and maintains a stable API, though active development has slowed significantly. The tool is designed for teams that want to enforce consistent commit message standards across their codebase.

Use it for:

- Enforce consistent commit message formatting across a team to improve repository history readability.
- Prevent commits with empty subjects or excessively long lines from entering the main branch.
- Integrate into CI/CD pipelines to validate commit messages on pull requests or before merge.
- Configure custom rules to match your project's specific commit message conventions.
- Use as a pre-commit Git hook to catch style violations locally before pushing.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Gitlint is a command-line tool that validates Git commit messages against configurable style rules, catching formatting and content issues before they enter your repository.

Yes, if you need commit message linting and can accept dormant maintenance. The package is stable, has no known vulnerabilities, and a large user base. The lack of recent updates is a concern only if you need active bug fixes or new features; for enforcing existing commit standards, it works reliably. Consider it if your team values commit hygiene and you're comfortable with a mature, slow-moving tool.

## Install

pip install gitlint
uv add gitlint
poetry add gitlint

## Installing gitlint

Before you install: Low install friction with a single runtime dependency. Maintenance is dormant—last release was over a year ago and the maintainer is actively seeking co-maintainers, though the repository remains active and the project is marked stable.

License in practice: Licensed under MIT (permissive), so you can use, modify, and distribute gitlint freely with minimal restrictions.

Quickstart:

pip install gitlint

# In a git repository, run:
gitlint

# Or lint a specific commit:
gitlint --commit <commit-hash>

Verify before relying:

- Whether the dormant maintenance status affects real-world reliability or if the stable codebase requires minimal updates.
- Whether the search for co-maintainers indicates risk of abandonment or reflects normal open-source dynamics.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: dormant
- Downloads: 831.8K/month (top 5,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

git commit message linter, commit message style checker, git hook linting, enforce commit conventions, commit message validation, git message format checker, git-workflow, commit-linting, code-quality

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/gitlint) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/gitlint/)