Example Scenario and Fix

remote: error: commit message did not match format: [JIRA-123] Description of change
remote: error: pre-receive hook declined

Fix:

Step 1: Amend your commit message to include the required JIRA ticket number:

git commit --amend -m "[JIRA-123] Description of change"
git push --force

Step 2: If the repository doesn’t allow force-pushing, you might need to create a new commit:

git revert HEAD
git commit -m "[JIRA-123] Description of change"
git push

By understanding the specifics of the pre-receive hook and following the steps outlined above, you can effectively resolve the “pre-receive hook declined” error and ensure your changes adhere to the repository’s policies.

When working with Git repositories, you may encounter an error message that says “Pre-receive hook declined.” This error occurs when a pre-receive hook, a type of server-side Git hook, rejects your push. Pre-receive hooks are scripts that run on the server before the push is accepted, and they are often used to enforce rules about commits, branches, or files. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and fixing this error.