Every developer has been there. You're deep into debugging, putting console.log() statements throughout your code, trying to track down that annoying bug. It's a natural part of the development process - nobody writes perfect code on the first try.

But here's where things get risky: those debugging statements sometimes survive into production. Despite code reviews and best intentions, they slip through. While this might seem like a minor oversight, it can have serious consequences:

Security Vulnerabilities

• Exposed sensitive data
• Leaked internal system information
• Revealed application logic

Performance Impact

• Unnecessary logging operations
• Increased network traffic
• Bloated application size

Maintenance Headaches

• Cluttered logs
• Confusion during production debugging
• Inconsistent logging patterns

The solution: Pre-commit Hooks

Hidden in your .git folder is a powerful tool that can prevent these issues: the pre-commit hook. As its name suggests, this script runs automatically before each commit, acting as your first line of defense against unwanted code reaching your repository.

How it works?

Pre-commit hooks are scripts that Git executes before committing changes. You can use them to:

• Scan changed files for debugging statements
• Block commits containing debug code
• Provide immediate feedback to developers
• Enforce consistent code quality

Setting up your pre-commit hook

1. Navigate to your project's .git/hooks directory:

   cd your-project/.git/hooks

2. Create a new file named pre-commit (no extension):

   touch pre-commit
   chmod +x pre-commit
   

3. Add your checking logic. Here's a simple example:

   #!/bin/bash
                                           
   # Get all staged files
   files=$(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM | grep -E '\.(js|jsx|ts|tsx)$')
   
   # Check for debugging statements
   for file in $files; do
       if grep -E 'console\.(log|debug|info)|debugger' "$file"; then
       echo "❌ Debugging statement found in $file"
       echo "Please remove debugging statements before committing"
       exit 1
       fi
   done
   
   exit 0
   

This script will:

• Check all staged JavaScript/TypeScript files
• Look for common debugging patterns
• Block the commit if it finds any matches
• Provide clear feedback about what needs to be fixed

Conclusion

While debugging code is an essential part of development, it doesn't belong in production. By implementing a pre-commit hook, you create an automated safety net that catches these oversights before they become problems.

Remember: The best code is not just functionally correct - it's also secure and maintainable. Take this simple step today to improve your development workflow and protect your production environment.

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Want to learn more about Git hooks? Check out the official Git documentation for detailed information.