split

Split a commit into two sequential commits by selecting which files (or hunks) go into the first.

Usage

git loom split [-p] [-m <message>] <target> [<files>...]

Arguments

Argument	Description
`<target>`	Commit hash, short ID, or `HEAD`
`<files>...`	Files for the first commit. Shows an interactive picker if omitted. Ignored when `-p` is used.

Options

Option	Description
`-m, --message <message>`	Message for the first commit. Opens editor if omitted.
`-p, --patch`	Interactively pick individual hunks for the first commit

What It Does

File-based split (default)

Shows an interactive multi-select of all files changed in the commit. The files you pick go into the first commit; the rest stay in the second commit, which keeps the original message.

You can skip the picker by listing <files> on the command line. The commit must touch at least two files.

Opens the hunk picker TUI showing every hunk in the commit. All hunks start unselected (no-op). Toggle hunks with Space; selected hunks go into the first commit, unselected hunks stay in the second. Works on single-file commits.

HEAD vs non-HEAD

HEAD commit: reset --mixed HEAD~1 then re-commit in two steps — no rebase needed.
Non-HEAD commit: uses an edit-and-continue rebase to pause at the target, split it, then replay descendants.

Both paths preserve any pre-existing staged changes and abort cleanly on error.

Examples

Split HEAD interactively by file

git loom split HEAD
# ? Select files for the first commit
# > [x] src/auth.rs
#   [ ] src/main.rs
# (opens editor for the first commit message)
# ✓ Split `abc123d` into `def456a` and `789bcd0`

Split HEAD by file non-interactively

git loom split HEAD -m "refactor: extract auth" src/auth.rs
# ✓ Split `abc123d` into `def456a` and `789bcd0`

Split a commit by short ID using the hunk picker

git loom split -p ab -m "fix: extract bounds check"
# (hunk picker TUI opens — toggle hunks for first commit)
# ✓ Split `ab12345` into `cd67890` and `ef01234`

Split a non-HEAD commit by file

git loom split ab -m "refactor: extract helpers" src/helpers.rs
# ✓ Split `ab12345` into `cd67890` and `ef01234`

Prerequisites

Must be in a git repository with a working tree
Target must be a commit (not a branch, file, or zz)
Merge commits cannot be split
File-based split requires the commit to touch at least two files
Git ≥ 2.38

git-loom