Micro keypad to do your regular Git push/pull/add/commit actions
36 comments
·March 1, 2025afandian
lukasgraf
When mentoring a junior, I noticed he had an alias `gpf`, which he apparently picked up from another developer.
I had a serious conversation with him, explaining that I'm not in the habit of telling him how to configure his shell, edit or general work environment. But an alias for `git push -f`, that I cannot condone. When you're doing that, the two seconds it takes to type it out should be rather low on the list of priorities.
So we had a good talk, and he genuinely understood the point I was trying to make. When I was about to leave, he looked at me sheepishly and asked:
"So I guess you want me to remove this one too?"
gacpf - git add . && git commit --amend && git push --force
hinkley
On my last project I was the only person who had --force permissions on bitbucket. In six years I used it twice on purpose, and once on accident (and then once again to undo the mistake).
If you want to do a push -f to a branch that only you are working on to finish a rebase -i to make the commits you did in haste make sense, then go for it. But nobody should be forcing to master unless it's to undo a really big fuckup.
One was merging a PR with giant files accidentally attached, the other was re-exporting from perforce because they totally fucked 'git blame' and I wasn't having any of that.
tux3
Oh, I have practically the same alias.
You might be surprised at this if you use Git in append only mode, making "fix 1", "fix 2", ... commits on a branch when you find a problem in a previous commit
Another workflow is to keep each commit self-contained, rebase the series when you make changes, and send the v2, v3, ... of your pull request with push --force
Of course, if you do this on a shared branch that other people also want to commit on, you may want to pick a desk close to the exit, and far away from any windows
aunderscored
Have you considered fixup commits? On shared branches they work very well. Either autosquash before pushing, or as part of your final PR prep
_kb
And a `git push -f` on physically separated key switches that require two people to operate.
hinkley
Do you know of any software systems that do 'double key lockout' like this? I've wanted one for a long time but I am having a failure of imagination on how to implement it.
Or I should say, I see the trap in the two or three most obvious variants which makes them even less effective because you create a Confused Deputy situation with the person you expect to sign off.
Example: If I file a PR to change a production flag, and I tell you what (I think) I just did, you're likely to approve my change because I've primed you to see what I wanted you to see, and you miss the same bug I missed. You're going to trust my judgement when the whole point of not allowing me to just push without a second pair of eyes is that you cannot trust my judgement 100.00% of the time. If I'm 99.9% trustworthy you're likely to stop looking at my ideas expecting to see a problem.
I believe if we don't send each other code we are more likely to get that 4th 9. But I could still be wrong thanks to the Primacy Effect mentioned above.
rtkwe
Me at the end of a contentious code review: "TURN YOUR KEY SENIOR!"
hinkley
The only way to win is not to play.
See also: Samir you're breaking the car!
(For today's 10000, that's a bloopers real of a professional racer that was done as a prank by a rival and which ended up causing him some problems)
amelius
I want something to push when I git-push.
And I want something to pull when I git-pull.
rpastuszak
My first thought: Get a Playdate and use the crank!
johnmaguire
Why would I get this over something like a Stream Deck?
marcellus23
India only for now.
How could this work without needing software? Does it literally just type out the command when you press the button?
Gys
Probably indeed an usb keyboard device. Great idea! I would like a big red button for deploys :)
Edit: a big red button that is disabled on Fridays. To enforce relaxed weekends
gus_massa
[Sorry for ruining the fun in an industrial setup, the big red button is the emergency stop. If someone is in danger, you just push the big red button to stop the machine.]
genezeta
Like a rubberducky but with a button?
rtkwe
Basically. Just non malicious. It's a macro pad with an unusually long macro.
bodhi_mind
Relax, it doesn’t need to actually do that because it installs malware and steals all your keys
/s?
lillesvin
I'm assuming it's a simple MCU that registers as a USB keyboard and types out the commands followed by Enter.
If it's supposed to do commit + push in one press, then I wonder how it handles commit messages?
hot_gril
cat /dev/urandom |
NewJazz
Open an editor?
acheron
In the early 90s, Gateway had a keyboard called "Anykey" that let you program macros into the keyboard firmware. We programmed several DOS commands into ours. It had two full sets F1-F12 of function keys, both along the side like an old Model F, and along the top. So the F-keys on the side we used for DOS macros.
OrvalWintermute
The Logitech G15 keyboard which has about 2 major versions, is capable of some nifty keystroke / macro functionality too. I have one of them somewhere.
Extensive amount of G-keys :)
here is the pop-up version https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/logitech-g15-gaming-k...
and here is the fixed display version https://www.amitbhawani.com/blog/logitech-g15-gaming-keyboar...
Am not connected to either of these sites.
asmor
Not the first person to have this mid idea. Just get a VIA compatible numpad or one of the many boards for OSU.
mikeInAlaska
Is this an actual problem to be solved? I would not want our repo "attached" to devices capable of one click operations.
kvdveer
Any keyboard with macro functionality is capable of one click operations. Any IDE is capable of one click operations. Any shell with history is capable of two-click operations.
It's just a keyboard button. It can do the same harm any developer can already do.
ge96
Alexa: commit this code for me
better, dead man's switch tied to your heart, $rm -rf your computer
sigmonsays
april 1st already?
null
wellthisisgreat
HN, what are your favorite QMK / ZMK etc. compatible macropads ?
whiplash451
Wake me up when it’s a pedal under your desk
Fun idea, but adding and committing is the time when I want to be going slow and paying the most attention! What files did I change, were all the changes on purpose, have I described all of the changes.
Buttons for pulling and creating branches would be good though.
And break glass to `git reset --hard` would provide some nice ceremony.