using blank?, much shorter

app/decorators/commit_decorator.rb

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class CommitDecorator < ApplicationDecorator
   # In case this first line is longer than 80 characters, it is cut off
   # after 70 characters and ellipses (`&hellp;`) are appended.
   def title
-    return no_commit_message unless safe_message && !safe_message.strip.empty?
+    return no_commit_message if safe_message.blank?
 
     title_end = safe_message.index(/\n/)
     if (!title_end && safe_message.length > 80) || (title_end && title_end > 80)

app/helpers/gitlab_markdown_helper.rb

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ module GitlabMarkdownHelper
   # explicitly produce the correct linking behavior (i.e.
   # "<a>outer text </a><a>gfm ref</a><a> more outer text</a>").
   def link_to_gfm(body, url, html_options = {})
-    return "" unless body && !body.strip.empty?
+    return "" if body.blank?
     
     gfm_body = gfm(body, html_options)