Skip to content
alyn
Matt Pocock

Git Guardrails Claude Code skill

Set up Claude Code hooks to block dangerous git commands (push, reset --hard, clean, branch -D, etc.) before they execute. Use when user wants to prevent destructive git operations, add git safety hooks, or block git push/reset in Claude Code.

$npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill git-guardrails-claude-code
GitHub stars
320,842
Pack installs
33M
Alyn Score
93/99
Updated
34 h ago
License
MIT

Install Git Guardrails Claude Code

Pick your agent. Every command is ready to paste.

$npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill git-guardrails-claude-code

The open skills CLI detects your agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ more) and installs to the right folder. Add -g to install globally.

01

Install it

Run the command above, or upload the folder in Claude.

02

Ask naturally

Describe the task. Your agent loads git-guardrails-claude-code when the request matches its description.

03

Name it if needed

If it does not trigger, say “use the git-guardrails-claude-code skill”. In Codex, type $git-guardrails-claude-code.

The skill itself

SKILL.md

GitHub

Setup Git Guardrails

Sets up a PreToolUse hook that intercepts and blocks dangerous git commands before Claude executes them.

What Gets Blocked

  • git push (all variants including --force)
  • git reset --hard
  • git clean -f / git clean -fd
  • git branch -D
  • git checkout . / git restore .

When blocked, Claude sees a message telling it that it does not have authority to access these commands.

Steps

1. Ask scope

Ask the user: install for this project only (.claude/settings.json) or all projects (~/.claude/settings.json)?

2. Copy the hook script

The bundled script is at: scripts/block-dangerous-git.sh

Copy it to the target location based on scope:

  • Project: .claude/hooks/block-dangerous-git.sh
  • Global: ~/.claude/hooks/block-dangerous-git.sh

Make it executable with chmod +x.

3. Add hook to settings

Add to the appropriate settings file:

Project (.claude/settings.json):

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Bash",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "\"$CLAUDE_PROJECT_DIR\"/.claude/hooks/block-dangerous-git.sh"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Global (~/.claude/settings.json):

{
  "hooks": {
    "PreToolUse": [
      {
        "matcher": "Bash",
        "hooks": [
          {
            "type": "command",
            "command": "~/.claude/hooks/block-dangerous-git.sh"
          }
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

If the settings file already exists, merge the hook into the existing hooks.PreToolUse array. Don't overwrite other settings.

4. Ask about customization

Ask if user wants to add or remove any patterns from the blocked list. Edit the copied script accordingly.

5. Verify

Run a quick test:

echo '{"tool_input":{"command":"git push origin main"}}' | <path-to-script>

Should exit with code 2 and print a BLOCKED message to stderr.

Tips for Git Guardrails Claude Code

  • • Start a fresh session after installing so your agent picks up the new skill.
  • • This skill ships scripts. Read them before the first run, and run it in a project without secrets first.
  • • It is part of a pack with 39 skills. Install only the ones you need with --skill to keep triggers precise.
  • • If two skills overlap, mention the one you want by name.

Questions about Git Guardrails Claude Code

What does the Git Guardrails Claude Code skill do?

Set up Claude Code hooks to block dangerous git commands (push, reset --hard, clean, branch -D, etc.) before they execute. Use when user wants to prevent destructive git operations, add git safety hooks, or block git push/reset in Claude Code.

How do I install Git Guardrails Claude Code?

Run "npx skills add mattpocock/skills --skill git-guardrails-claude-code" in your project. The skills CLI installs it for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and 70+ other agents. In Claude on the web, upload the skill folder as a ZIP under Customize > Skills.

Does Git Guardrails Claude Code work in Cursor and Codex?

Yes. Git Guardrails Claude Code uses the open SKILL.md format, so it works in Claude Code, Claude, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and other agents that support agent skills.

Is Git Guardrails Claude Code free?

Git Guardrails Claude Code is open source on GitHub under the MIT license. It is free to install; check the license before commercial use.

Who made Git Guardrails Claude Code?

Git Guardrails Claude Code is published by Matt Pocock in the mattpocock/skills repository, together with 38 other skills.

Similar skills. From other creators.