GitHub Commits in Plain English (Finally)

How to Understand GitHub Commits in Plain English

The short answer: GitHub commits are save points with notes attached. Each commit message describes what your developer changed. The problem is they're written in developer shorthand that means nothing to you. The solution is commit translation, converting those cryptic messages into plain English automatically.

Now let me show you exactly how this works.

You opened GitHub. Your developer told you to "check the commits" for progress.

You saw this:

• + abc3345123f fix: refactor auth middleware
• + abc7229123f chore: update deps
• + abc4004923f feat: add validation to user input

• wip

You stared at it for 30 seconds.

You closed the tab.

You still have no idea what your developer built this week.

Here's the thing. Those four lines could mean "login is fixed and the payment bug is gone." Or they could mean "I reorganized some files and nothing changed for users."

You can't tell. And that's the problem.

I'm going to teach you how to understand GitHub commits without learning to code. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly what to look for and how to get plain English updates automatically.

What Is a GitHub Commit? (Simple Explanation)

A commit is a save point.

Think of it like hitting "save" in a Word document except Git remembers every single save you ever made. Each save has a little note attached explaining what changed.

That note is the commit message.

Here's what a commit looks like:

abc123f - fix: login button not working on mobile

The abc123f is a unique ID (ignore it). The part after the dash is the message your developer wrote.

That's it. A commit is just a saved change with a note.

The problem? Developers write these notes for other developers. Not for you.

Why Commit Messages Make No Sense to You

Developers use shorthand because they're writing fast. They're not thinking "will my non-technical founder understand this?" They're thinking "I need to save this and move on."

So you get messages like:

See the gap? The left column tells you nothing. The right column tells you everything.

This gap between what developers write and what founders need to know is called the developer translation gap. And it's why you feel lost every time you check GitHub.

Here's the good news: you don't actually need developers to write better commit messages. Tools that read the code itself can explain what changed regardless of what the message says.

The Anatomy of a Commit Message

Most developers follow a loose pattern. Once you know it, you can decode about 60% of commit messages yourself.

The format:

type: short description

Common types:

• + abc9029223f fix:
• + abc5388723f feat:
• + abc5407223f chore:
• + abc2429323f refactor:
• + abc2839123f docs:
• + abc9467523f style:
• + abc5815923f test:

• wip: Work in progress, not finished

Examples decoded:

This helps. But it's still a lot of work to check GitHub daily and translate each commit yourself.

What You Actually Need (And Don't Need)

Let me save you some time.

You don't need to:

• Learn to code

• Understand Git commands

• Read the actual code changes

• Become a developer

You do need to:

• Know what features shipped

• Know what bugs were fixed

• Know if your developer is stuck

• Know if you're on track

The commit messages contain this information. It's just locked in a language you don't speak.

The solution is commit translation, automatically converting developer shorthand into founder-friendly updates.

What Is Commit Translation?

Definition: Commit translation is the process of analyzing the actual code changes in a GitHub commit and explaining what was built in plain English. It reads the code itself, not just the commit message, so you get accurate explanations even when developers write vague messages like "wip" or "misc fixes."

Example:

Shipanel reads the actual code diff and generates the explanation, so even commits with lazy messages get properly explained:

The "after" version tells you what actually matters: what changed for users and your business.

You can do this manually (ask your developer to translate after each commit). Or you can automate it.

How to Read GitHub Commits Yourself (Manual Method)

If you want to check GitHub directly, here's how:

Step 1: Find the commits

Go to your repository on GitHub. Click the "commits" link (usually shows a number like "247 commits").

Step 2: Scan the messages

Look at the most recent messages. Look for these keywords:

• fix = something was broken, now it works

• feat or feature = something new was added

• bug = same as fix

• wip = not done yet (ignore these)

• merge = combining work (usually ignore)

Step 3: Ask about anything unclear

If you see refactor: auth module and don't know what it means, ask. Send your developer a message: "I saw you refactored auth. What changed from a user perspective?"

That's a fair question. Good developers will appreciate that you're paying attention.

The problem with this method: It takes time. You have to check GitHub regularly, decode messages, and ask follow-up questions. Most founders give up after a week.

How to Get Plain English Updates Automatically

What if you didn't have to check GitHub at all?

What if every time your developer pushed code, you got a message like:

"Fixed the bug where users couldn't upload photos larger than 2MB. Photo uploads now work for all file sizes."

Instead of:

fix: increase multer file size limit

That's what commit translation tools do. They analyze the actual code that was written - the lines added, removed, and modified - and explain what it does in plain English. Even if your developer writes "wip" as the commit message, you still get a real explanation because Shipanel reads the code, not just the message.

This is why we built Shipanel.

Your developer connects GitHub. They keep coding exactly like normal. Every time they push, you get a translated update. No meetings. No asking. No decoding.

Example:

Your developer pushes: fix: race condition in payment queue

You see: "Fixed an issue where some payments were processed twice. Customers will no longer be double-charged."

That's the information you actually needed.

Try it free, 90 seconds to set up →

What to Do When You See Concerning Commits

Sometimes you'll see commits that should raise questions.

Red flags to watch for:

These aren't accusations. They're conversation starters. Good developers won't mind, they'll appreciate that you're engaged.

The Founder's Cheat Sheet for GitHub

Save this. Reference it when you check GitHub.

Commit types:

• fix = Bug fixed ✓

• feat = New feature added ✓

• chore = Maintenance (no user impact)

• refactor = Code cleanup (no user impact)

• wip = Not done yet

• docs = Documentation only

• test = Testing only

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Do I see fix or feat commits? → Actual progress

2. Do I see only chore or refactor? → Maintenance, not features

3. Do I see wip for days? → Might be stuck

4. Do I see nothing? → Definitely ask

Questions to ask your developer:

• "What can users do now that they couldn't do before?"

• "Are you stuck on anything?"

• "Are we still on track for Friday?"

Notice these questions don't require you to understand code. They require you to understand outcomes.

Pro tip: If your developer writes vague messages like "wip" or "stuff," commit translation tools that read the actual code (not just the message) will still tell you what was built.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Here's what's actually at stake.

When you can't read commits:

• You don't know if you're on schedule

• You can't answer investor questions about shipping velocity

• You miss early warning signs when developers are stuck

• You either micromanage (annoying) or stay blind (risky)

When you can read commits (or get translations):

• You know what shipped today

• You can prove progress to investors with specifics

• You catch blockers early

• You stay informed without being annoying

One founder told me she lost a funding round because she couldn't explain what her team had shipped. The investor asked for "velocity proof." She had commits. She just couldn't translate them into business value.

Don't let that be you.

Stop Decoding. Start Understanding.

You have two options.

Option 1: Learn to decode commits yourself

Use the cheat sheet above. Check GitHub weekly. Ask clarifying questions. It works, but it takes time and discipline.

Option 2: Automate the translation

Let a tool read every commit and translate it for you automatically. You get plain English updates without checking GitHub or asking your developer to explain.

Either way, stop ignoring your GitHub repo. The information you need is there. You just need it in your language.

Ready to understand what your developer actually ships?

Shipanel translates GitHub commits into plain English automatically. Your developer codes normally. You get clear updates on every push.

No jargon. No decoding. No confusion.

Free to start. Setup takes 90 seconds.

See how it works →