Remember how we talked about Git workflows and Linux scripting? Well, it’s time to take things to the next level—like teaching your Git repo to make you coffee. (Okay, maybe not coffee—but close.)

Welcome to the powerful combo of Git hooks + Linux scripts. With just a little setup, your Git repo can start running checks, cleaning up code, or even deploying updates automatically—no finger-lifting required. Let's jump in.

Wait, What Are Git Hooks?

Git hooks are scripts that Git runs before or after certain events—like commits, merges, pushes, or checkouts.

Think of them as little robot helpers that sit inside your project and go:

“Oh, you're trying to commit? Cool. Let me just run your tests first to make sure everything’s still working.”

They live inside the .git/hooks/ folder of your repo, and you can customize them to do almost anything.

Real-World Example: Run Tests Before Every Commit

Let’s say you’re working on a real estate app. You don’t want broken code getting committed. Here's how you can use a Git hook to automatically run your test suite before every commit.

Step 1: Create a Pre-Commit Hook

Navigate to your repo’s .git/hooks/ folder and create a file called pre-commit.

cd my-real-estate-app/.git/hooks
touch pre-commit
chmod +x pre-commit

Step 2: Add Your Linux Script

Here's a simple shell script to run your tests automatically before every commit:

#!/bin/bash

echo "🔍 Running tests before commit..."

npm test  # or python3 -m unittest, or your framework's test command

if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
  echo "❌ Tests failed. Commit aborted."
  exit 1
else
  echo "✅ All tests passed. Proceeding with commit."
fi

Save it and make sure it’s executable with chmod +x pre-commit.

Now every time you try to commit, your tests will run. If they fail, the commit gets blocked. It’s like having a mini QA engineer in your repo.

Other Cool Things You Can Automate with Git Hooks

1. Code Formatting

Auto-format code with tools like Prettier, Black, or eslint on pre-commit.

2. Secrets Detection

Prevent yourself (or teammates!) from accidentally committing API keys using something like git-secrets.

3. Post-Merge Setup

Automatically run npm install or recompile assets after someone merges a branch.

4. Push Deployments

Trigger a deployment script on post-push—great for hobby apps or staging environments.

Bonus: A Bash Script Deployment Example (Post-Push)

Want to auto-deploy your app to a staging server after a push?

Create a post-push script:

#!/bin/bash

echo "🚀 Deploying to staging server..."
ssh user@staging-server "cd /var/www/app && git pull && npm install && pm2 restart all"
echo "✅ Deployment complete!"

Pro Tips

Don’t commit hooks to .git/hooks/—that folder isn’t tracked. Instead, store them elsewhere and create a script to copy them over (or use Husky for easier hook management).
Always test your scripts locally before relying on them.
Use meaningful logging—makes debugging so much easier.

TL;DR

Combining Git hooks with Linux scripts lets you automate the boring, enforce best practices, and avoid those forehead-slap mistakes like committing broken code or forgetting to deploy.

This setup is especially powerful if you're working with a team or juggling multiple projects. You’ll be the person who always has clean commits and a smooth CI/CD pipeline—and your teammates will thank you.

Git Hooks and Linux Scripts: The Dynamic Duo for Effortless Automation