# Merge commit message is empty. Aborting merge.

- **ID:** `git/merge-commit-no-message`
- **Domain:** git
- **Category:** config_error
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 88%

## Root Cause

Git merge was attempted with an empty commit message, often due to a missing or misconfigured editor or hook.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| git 2.35.0 | active | — | — |
| git 2.42.0 | active | — | — |
| git 2.46.0 | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Run 'git config core.editor nano' to set a proper editor, then re-run 'git merge --continue'.** (85% success)
   ```
   Run 'git config core.editor nano' to set a proper editor, then re-run 'git merge --continue'.
   ```
2. **Use 'git merge --no-edit' to auto-generate a default merge message.** (90% success)
   ```
   Use 'git merge --no-edit' to auto-generate a default merge message.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **** — Setting GIT_EDITOR to 'true' or 'cat' may cause empty messages, as they produce no output. (80% fail)
- **** — Manually editing .git/MERGE_MSG to be empty and retrying will fail again. (95% fail)