How to set git commit editor to sublime

Git commit editior

Method 1
git config --global core.editor "'c:/program files/sublime text 3/sublime_text.exe' -w"

Method 2
git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w"

Method 3
$ echo 'alias subl="/cygdrive/c/Program\ Files/Sublime\ Text\ 3/sublime_text.exe"' >> ~/.bashrc

I've sent hours trying to figure this out and nothing from the list above is working. I keep on getting this message, yet I am able to launch sublime with just subl alias, but when I try to commit or merge this message pops up. I am confused, does my alias even work or not?

hint: Waiting for your editor to close the file... subl -n -w: subl: command not found
error: There was a problem with the editor 'subl -n -w'.
Please supply the message using either -m or -F option.

@LiubovT subl: command not found means you don't have a symlink for the subl command. You can add this symlink per the directions here.

The only change I would make to those directions is rather than adding the symlink to ~/bin I would add the symlink to /usr/local/bin. So the command would be:

ln -s "/Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl" /usr/local/bin/subl

^ I've found this to be the most durable option (on MacOS).

Step one

ln -s "/Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl" /usr/local/bin/subl

Step two

git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w"

Now you should be able to use Sublime text for git stuff like editing commit messages for reverts/squashes/etc.

@okor thank you!

It worked! But I have another problem, maybe somebody have a solution?

git rebase -i HEAD~4
and I got an empty file.

Also attaching a config file.

^ I've found this to be the most durable option (on MacOS).

Step one

ln -s "/Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl" /usr/local/bin/subl

Step two

git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w"

Now you should be able to use Sublime text for git stuff like editing commit messages for reverts/squashes/etc.

It finally works! Thanks a lot @okor

Thanks!

I have no idea why this is still active. I switched to vs-code. I'm closing this gist.

For Mac
Try This : git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/Sublime\ Text"
Then Check : git config --global -e
Make sure you include the path in double quotes.

This works for me TOO!!!!!!!Thanks @pranitkokne

yes double quote works (y) thanks

I've sent hours trying to figure this out and nothing from the list above is working. I keep on getting this message, yet I am able to launch sublime with just subl alias, but when I try to commit or merge this message pops up. I am confused, does my alias even work or not?

hint: Waiting for your editor to close the file... subl -n -w: subl: command not found
error: There was a problem with the editor 'subl -n -w'.
Please supply the message using either -m or -F option.

How did you eventually solve this cos I'm having that exact problem

This worked for me (Mac):
git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl -n -w"

Hope it helps you :D

Using @pranitkokne's answer, git commit opens up a new tab in Sublime, but the prompt is not returned until I quit the editor completely. Saving and closing the tab isn't enough.

For Mac
Try This : git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/Sublime\ Text"
Then Check : git config --global -e
Make sure you include the path in double quotes.

Thanks!

git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/Sublime\ Text"

works for me, thanks mate!!

^ I've found this to be the most durable option (on MacOS).

Step one

ln -s "/Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl" /usr/local/bin/subl

Step two

git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w"

Now you should be able to use Sublime text for git stuff like editing commit messages for reverts/squashes/etc.

Thank you! That works.

Works for me as well. Thank you @Alberto-GS!

git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/Sublime\ Text"

Great !!!
For Sublime Text 3 this is a correct path git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/sublime_text"

This worked for me on mac:

git config --global core.editor "open -a 'Sublime Text' --wait" !

Option with git config --global core.editor "subl -n -w" didnt work, resulted in error:

$ git commit
hint: Waiting for your editor to close the file... Failed to receive exit code from application
error: There was a problem with the editor 'subl -n -w'.
Please supply the message using either -m or -F option.

I'm on Sublime Text build no 4126 (up to date as of now) on mac and the executable name seems to have changed to sublime_text (rather than Sublime Text). You can check yours by going to the applications folder and right click, show package contents. The upshot is the following worked for me:
git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/MacOS/sublime_text"

prior solutions didn't work, so here's what worked for me—

OS: macOS 14.4 23E214 arm64
Shell: zsh 5.9
CPU: Apple M2
Editor: Sublime Text 4 (Build 4169)

check out Table 4 in section git config core.editor commands for an exhaustive list of core.editor configuration commands (Pro Git 2nd Ed. Appendix C). looks helpful for other system / editor combinations, too.

solution in my case:

$ git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl --new-window --wait"

(source link and git blame in the book)

---

specifying the path to the macOS executable sublime_text as @kitmw mentioned (thank you for the quick name check how-to) did not behave as expected:

2024-03-22 21:44:48.432 sublime_text[45060:2846253] WARNING: -restoreStateWithCoder: called with an 
unsupported NSCoder.

It works on my mac. Thank you @xsqf !
macOS 13.5 Shell: zsh 5.9 CPU: Apple M2 Editor: Sublime Test 4

$ git config --global core.editor "/Applications/Sublime\ Text.app/Contents/SharedSupport/bin/subl --new-window --wait"