git-branch: Actually using the current branch as default start-point
Hi
The git-branch documentation states that the start-point defaults to the current branch if omitted. I interpret that to mean that
git checkout origin/somebranch
git branch newbranch
is equivalent to
git branch newbranch origin/somebranch
but that is currently not the case. If you checkout a remote branch then you are not considered to _be_ on the remote branch, so the start-point will behave as if an arbitrary commit was specified, i.e. tracking will not be setup correctly.
This is an easy patch and I have something working, I just need to finalize it. Does this sound like a sane patch to you?
Best regards,
Martin Nordholts
Hi,
Quoted 4 lines · Martin Nordholts
The git-branch documentation states that the start-point defaults to the current branch if omitted. I interpret that to mean that
git checkout origin/somebranch
This detaches the HEAD.
Quoted 1 line
git branch newbranch
This gives the detached HEAD a name.
Quoted 3 lines
is equivalent to
git branch newbranch origin/somebranch
In this case, we know exactly from which remote branch the new branch was created.
The difference?
In the former case, origin can be long gone by the time the new branch is created. And you have to make sure that once we switch away (by whatever means) from the detached HEAD, the tracking information is deleted.
All in all, your wish sounds rather fragile and thus not desirable to me.
Ciao,
Dscho
P.S.: Disclaimer skipped as we talked on IRC about it, and I am actually surprised you still think it would be a sensible idea.