How to configure Signing git commits:

1. Using GPG keys:

• You can find instructions on how to use GPG keys on the link below.

  Using GPG Keys

a) Install GPG:

$ brew install gpg    

for windows

b) Generate a new GPG key:

$ gpg --full-generate-key

• Keep in mind the following settings:
  • Choose an RSA key (Option 1)
  • Key should be a MINIMUM of 4096 in size
  • I set it never to expire (Option 0)
  • Name and email. Use your GitHub email else, it won't work!
  • After this, it will prompt a password field twice. Use a secure password for this.

c) Verify the GPG key:

$ gpg --list-secret-keys --keyid-format LONG

d) Export the key to gitHub:

$ gpg --armor --export [THIS_KEY_ID]

• This will generate a large block of code. copy the whole section, including the comments and paste it in Github.
• In GitHub, click on your profile image -> Settings. Choose SSH and GPG Keys from the left menu, scroll down and add a new GPG Key.

e) Configure git to always sign commits using the key:

$ git config --global user.signingkey [THIS_KEY_ID]
$ git config --global commit.gpgsign true

f) Creating a custom commit message:

• i) Edit the .gitconfig file to point git to the template we are creating:

   $ git config --global commit.template ~/.gitmessage
  

• Alternatively, you can VI into .gitconfig file and add the contents below.

    [commit]
    template = ~/.gitmessage
  

• ii) Create a template in ~/.gitmessage file:

########50 characters############################
Scope / Description with fix, feat (SemVer)
Contributing-to: https://kennedymakhanu1.atlassian.net/browse/<JIRA-TICKET>
########72 characters##################################################
Problem
# Problem, Task, Reason for Commit
Solution
# Solution or List of Changes
Note
# Special instructions, testing steps, rake, etc

• c) Now when you commit any updates, only type git commit and the editor will pop up for you to provide the context:

   $ git commit
  

2. Using SSH keys:

• You can find instructions on how to use ssh keys from the link below.

  Using SSH Keys