--- a/foodtruck/scm/base.py	Thu Feb 25 23:26:36 2016 -0800
+++ b/foodtruck/scm/base.py	Sat Feb 27 22:00:35 2016 -0800
@@ -15,9 +15,19 @@
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
     def commit(self, paths, message, *, author=None):
+        if not message:
+            raise ValueError("No message specified for committing changes.")
         author = author or self.config.get('author')
         self._doCommit(paths, message, author)
 
     def _doCommit(self, paths, message, author):
         raise NotImplementedError()
 
+
+def _s(strs):
+    """ Convert a byte array to string using UTF8 encoding. """
+    if strs is None:
+        return None
+    assert isinstance(strs, bytes)
+    return strs.decode('utf8')
+