dolt-commit:tldr:c2889

The command "dolt commit --allow-empty" is used to create a new commit in a Dolt repository, even if there are no changes to be committed.

In a Dolt repository, commits are used to track changes to the data and structure of a database. By default, Dolt does not allow creating empty commits, meaning that there must be at least one change made to the database in order to create a commit. This ensures that commits are meaningful and reflect actual modifications to the data.

However, in certain situations, you may want to create a commit even if there are no changes. For example, it could be useful to signify a milestone or mark a specific point in the development process, even if there are no changes to the data itself. In such cases, you can use the "--allow-empty" flag with the "dolt commit" command.

When you run "dolt commit --allow-empty", Dolt will create a new commit with an empty diff, indicating that there are no changes. This commit will still have a unique identifier and timestamp, and can be used just like any other commit.

It's worth noting that empty commits should be used judiciously and only when they serve a specific purpose, as they don't provide any actual modifications or improvements to the data.