Git commit --amend alias hangs

Question

I have this alias in my ~/.gitconfig:

[alias]
    am = commit -a --amend -C HEAD

Yet, when I run git am, it hangs, and I get (master|AM/REBASE) at the prompt, and I have to run git am --abort.

Answer 1

There already is a git am command. Your alias is invalid (since there already is such a command), and when you run git am, you're actually executing this command. If you chose a different alias, such as ca (short for "commit amend"), it should work:

[alias]
    ca = commit -a --amend -C HEAD

As a side note, git commit has a --no-edit flag you can use instead of -C HEAD:

[alias]
    ca = commit -a --amend --no-edit

Answer 2

There is a standard git am command that Applies (patches from) Mailbox. In git aliases cannot override standard commands, so even if you have an alias git am runs the standard command and the command awaits input at the standard input. So it doesn't hang, it's just waiting.

Rename the alias to something not already among standard git commands.