How can I make git commit messages divide into multiple lines?

Question

When I use git log to check out my commit explanatory note I want it to look like this:

1. what I changed 2. blank line 3. why I changed it 

...being in 3 lines not 1 like this:

1. what i changed  2. blank line 3. why i changed 

However, git log shows it in one line. So, how do I get this to happen using git commit -m?

Answer 1

You just use the following command:

$ git commit -m "1. what i changed > 2. blank line > 3. why i changed" 

In your terminal, just hit 'enter' for a new line. The commit message won't end until you add the closing quote. The git log will look like:

$ git log commit abcde2f660c707br2d20411581c4183170c3p0c2 Author: Alex Pan <[email protected]> Date:   Tue Apr 28 20:52:44 2015 -0700      1. what i changed     2. blank line     3. why i changed