Simon Willison releases commit-rewriter 0.1

Summary

Simon Willison released commit-rewriter 0.1. This Python-based web application allows you to batch edit and rewrite git commit messages. The tool was initially developed to clean up traces left by AI agents and specific issue references from Datasette's security update history.

Why it matters

AI coding agents are increasingly producing commit messages filled with unnecessary internal details. A lightweight tool to clean up history before publication fills a real and growing workflow gap. This also highlights how much post-hoc cleanup is required when agents are involved. A task that was once rare, rewriting git history, is becoming a routine hygiene step.

Highlights

• Runs via the `uvx commit-rewriter path/to/repo` command — no installation required, ready with a single command
• Creates a timestamped safety branch before rewriting, allowing you to revert the operation
• Rewrites all commits from the first edit to HEAD, not just individual messages

Critical take

A 0.1 version web application that essentially performs the work of `git filter-branch` or `git rebase -i` seems like over-engineering for a niche, one-time need. Additionally, the 'rewrite from first edit to HEAD' model does not offer the ability to fine-tune which commits were actually changed. The real story here is less about the tool and more about the acceptance that AI-generated commit history has become so dirty that it now requires a dedicated cleaning tool.