Semantic Commit
Notation
A compact visual language for versioning meaning-level changes in text-based projects. Track editorial magnitude, not just file diffs.
Six Symbols.
Infinite Clarity.
Each symbol represents the magnitude of editorial change, turning your git log into a semantic heat map.
Cosmetic
Pure formatting or spacing adjustments
Refinement
Adding clarity or tone improvement
Revision
A rewrite or change in meaning
Expansion
An addition or structural reorganization
Meta / Infrastructure
Non-editorial changes
Release
Coherent published version
History as a Heat Map
Your git log becomes a visual map of meaning evolution. Hot colors = major changes. Cool colors = refinements.
Instant Pattern Recognition
See at a glance where major rewrites happened versus minor polish. No need to read every commit message.
Editorial Magnitude
Unlike conventional commits, SCN captures how much the meaning changed, not just what files were touched.
Reproducible Milestones
Release commits (*) mark coherent semantic states. Each is a chapter heading in your document's evolution.
Real Project History
See how a document matures as meaning deepens, structure expands, and meta work maintains the system.
→ This history shows the document maturing through releases, major additions, moderate rewrites, minor refinements, cosmetic fixes, and meta work.
Built for the Terminal
Helper scripts make your commit history instantly scannable for patterns of meaning evolution.
git scn
Symbol-first, colorized commit log that makes magnitude instantly visible.
git heat
Groups commits by magnitude into a semantic heat map visualization.
Install
Helper scripts available in the /tools directory of the repository.
Lineage & Attribution
Arlo's Commit Notation introduced the concept of describing code changes by behavioral risk instead of file lists or conventional verbs.
Semantic Commit Notation extends that spirit to textual meaning, capturing editorial magnitude rather than behavioral change.
Inspired by Arlo Belshee's Commit Notation