Use the shortcut configured in How to install to generate a message during a commit or test the shortcut without creating a commit.

Generate a message

Review the staged changes you intend to include. The command reads the staged diff and sends it to your configured model provider. Then run git commit. When Vim opens the commit-message buffer, press <leader>cg and approve the generated message at the terminal prompt. Vim displays a progress message while the command runs, then reports whether it updated the message buffer.

The shortcut temporarily enables Vim’s autoread option to load the generated message without a file-change prompt. Review the message, then save and close the buffer with :wq to complete the commit. Use :cq to abort the commit instead.

Test without committing

From the repository root, inspect the staged diff and open Git’s message file:

git diff --cached --stat
vim "$(git rev-parse --git-path COMMIT_EDITMSG)"

Press <leader>cg to test the mapping. Because Vim was opened directly, not by git commit, saving or quitting the buffer does not create a commit. Quit with :q! when you finish.

If no changes are staged, the command exits without calling the model provider; this only checks that the mapping runs. If changes are staged, their diff is sent to the configured provider.

Troubleshooting

If Vim still reports that the message file changed, press L to load the generated message. If the command reports no staged changes, stage the changes you want included and try again.