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diff --git a/Documentation/git-branch.txt b/Documentation/git-branch.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..520c53b5e8 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/git-branch.txt @@ -0,0 +1,354 @@ +git-branch(1) +============= + +NAME +---- +git-branch - List, create, or delete branches + +SYNOPSIS +-------- +[verse] +'git branch' [--color[=<when>] | --no-color] [-r | -a] + [--list] [-v [--abbrev=<length> | --no-abbrev]] + [--column[=<options>] | --no-column] [--sort=<key>] + [(--merged | --no-merged) [<commit>]] + [--contains [<commit]] [--no-contains [<commit>]] + [--points-at <object>] [--format=<format>] [<pattern>...] +'git branch' [--set-upstream | --track | --no-track] [-l] [-f] <branchname> [<start-point>] +'git branch' (--set-upstream-to=<upstream> | -u <upstream>) [<branchname>] +'git branch' --unset-upstream [<branchname>] +'git branch' (-m | -M) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch> +'git branch' (-c | -C) [<oldbranch>] <newbranch> +'git branch' (-d | -D) [-r] <branchname>... +'git branch' --edit-description [<branchname>] + +DESCRIPTION +----------- + +If `--list` is given, or if there are no non-option arguments, existing +branches are listed; the current branch will be highlighted with an +asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed, +and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>` +is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to +matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if +it matches any of the patterns. Note that when providing a +`<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted +as branch creation. + +With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit +(in other words, the branches whose tip commits are descendants of the +named commit), `--no-contains` inverts it. With `--merged`, only branches +merged into the named commit (i.e. the branches whose tip commits are +reachable from the named commit) will be listed. With `--no-merged` only +branches not merged into the named commit will be listed. If the <commit> +argument is missing it defaults to `HEAD` (i.e. the tip of the current +branch). + +The command's second form creates a new branch head named <branchname> +which points to the current `HEAD`, or <start-point> if given. + +Note that this will create the new branch, but it will not switch the +working tree to it; use "git checkout <newbranch>" to switch to the +new branch. + +When a local branch is started off a remote-tracking branch, Git sets up the +branch (specifically the `branch.<name>.remote` and `branch.<name>.merge` +configuration entries) so that 'git pull' will appropriately merge from +the remote-tracking branch. This behavior may be changed via the global +`branch.autoSetupMerge` configuration flag. That setting can be +overridden by using the `--track` and `--no-track` options, and +changed later using `git branch --set-upstream-to`. + +With a `-m` or `-M` option, <oldbranch> will be renamed to <newbranch>. +If <oldbranch> had a corresponding reflog, it is renamed to match +<newbranch>, and a reflog entry is created to remember the branch +renaming. If <newbranch> exists, -M must be used to force the rename +to happen. + +The `-c` and `-C` options have the exact same semantics as `-m` and +`-M`, except instead of the branch being renamed it along with its +config and reflog will be copied to a new name. + +With a `-d` or `-D` option, `<branchname>` will be deleted. You may +specify more than one branch for deletion. If the branch currently +has a reflog then the reflog will also be deleted. + +Use `-r` together with `-d` to delete remote-tracking branches. Note, that it +only makes sense to delete remote-tracking branches if they no longer exist +in the remote repository or if 'git fetch' was configured not to fetch +them again. See also the 'prune' subcommand of linkgit:git-remote[1] for a +way to clean up all obsolete remote-tracking branches. + + +OPTIONS +------- +-d:: +--delete:: + Delete a branch. The branch must be fully merged in its + upstream branch, or in `HEAD` if no upstream was set with + `--track` or `--set-upstream`. + +-D:: + Shortcut for `--delete --force`. + +-l:: +--create-reflog:: + Create the branch's reflog. This activates recording of + all changes made to the branch ref, enabling use of date + based sha1 expressions such as "<branchname>@\{yesterday}". + Note that in non-bare repositories, reflogs are usually + enabled by default by the `core.logAllRefUpdates` config option. + The negated form `--no-create-reflog` only overrides an earlier + `--create-reflog`, but currently does not negate the setting of + `core.logAllRefUpdates`. + +-f:: +--force:: + Reset <branchname> to <startpoint>, even if <branchname> exists + already. Without `-f`, 'git branch' refuses to change an existing branch. + In combination with `-d` (or `--delete`), allow deleting the + branch irrespective of its merged status. In combination with + `-m` (or `--move`), allow renaming the branch even if the new + branch name already exists, the same applies for `-c` (or `--copy`). + +-m:: +--move:: + Move/rename a branch and the corresponding reflog. + +-M:: + Shortcut for `--move --force`. + +-c:: +--copy:: + Copy a branch and the corresponding reflog. + +-C:: + Shortcut for `--copy --force`. + +--color[=<when>]:: + Color branches to highlight current, local, and + remote-tracking branches. + The value must be always (the default), never, or auto. + +--no-color:: + Turn off branch colors, even when the configuration file gives the + default to color output. + Same as `--color=never`. + +-i:: +--ignore-case:: + Sorting and filtering branches are case insensitive. + +--column[=<options>]:: +--no-column:: + Display branch listing in columns. See configuration variable + column.branch for option syntax.`--column` and `--no-column` + without options are equivalent to 'always' and 'never' respectively. ++ +This option is only applicable in non-verbose mode. + +-r:: +--remotes:: + List or delete (if used with -d) the remote-tracking branches. + +-a:: +--all:: + List both remote-tracking branches and local branches. + +--list:: + List branches. With optional `<pattern>...`, e.g. `git + branch --list 'maint-*'`, list only the branches that match + the pattern(s). ++ +This should not be confused with `git branch -l <branchname>`, +which creates a branch named `<branchname>` with a reflog. +See `--create-reflog` above for details. + +-v:: +-vv:: +--verbose:: + When in list mode, + show sha1 and commit subject line for each head, along with + relationship to upstream branch (if any). If given twice, print + the name of the upstream branch, as well (see also `git remote + show <remote>`). + +-q:: +--quiet:: + Be more quiet when creating or deleting a branch, suppressing + non-error messages. + +--abbrev=<length>:: + Alter the sha1's minimum display length in the output listing. + The default value is 7 and can be overridden by the `core.abbrev` + config option. + +--no-abbrev:: + Display the full sha1s in the output listing rather than abbreviating them. + +-t:: +--track:: + When creating a new branch, set up `branch.<name>.remote` and + `branch.<name>.merge` configuration entries to mark the + start-point branch as "upstream" from the new branch. This + configuration will tell git to show the relationship between the + two branches in `git status` and `git branch -v`. Furthermore, + it directs `git pull` without arguments to pull from the + upstream when the new branch is checked out. ++ +This behavior is the default when the start point is a remote-tracking branch. +Set the branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable to `false` if you +want `git checkout` and `git branch` to always behave as if `--no-track` +were given. Set it to `always` if you want this behavior when the +start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch. + +--no-track:: + Do not set up "upstream" configuration, even if the + branch.autoSetupMerge configuration variable is true. + +--set-upstream:: + As this option had confusing syntax, it is no longer supported. + Please use `--track` or `--set-upstream-to` instead. + +-u <upstream>:: +--set-upstream-to=<upstream>:: + Set up <branchname>'s tracking information so <upstream> is + considered <branchname>'s upstream branch. If no <branchname> + is specified, then it defaults to the current branch. + +--unset-upstream:: + Remove the upstream information for <branchname>. If no branch + is specified it defaults to the current branch. + +--edit-description:: + Open an editor and edit the text to explain what the branch is + for, to be used by various other commands (e.g. `format-patch`, + `request-pull`, and `merge` (if enabled)). Multi-line explanations + may be used. + +--contains [<commit>]:: + Only list branches which contain the specified commit (HEAD + if not specified). Implies `--list`. + +--no-contains [<commit>]:: + Only list branches which don't contain the specified commit + (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`. + +--merged [<commit>]:: + Only list branches whose tips are reachable from the + specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`, + incompatible with `--no-merged`. + +--no-merged [<commit>]:: + Only list branches whose tips are not reachable from the + specified commit (HEAD if not specified). Implies `--list`, + incompatible with `--merged`. + +<branchname>:: + The name of the branch to create or delete. + The new branch name must pass all checks defined by + linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1]. Some of these checks + may restrict the characters allowed in a branch name. + +<start-point>:: + The new branch head will point to this commit. It may be + given as a branch name, a commit-id, or a tag. If this + option is omitted, the current HEAD will be used instead. + +<oldbranch>:: + The name of an existing branch to rename. + +<newbranch>:: + The new name for an existing branch. The same restrictions as for + <branchname> apply. + +--sort=<key>:: + Sort based on the key given. Prefix `-` to sort in descending + order of the value. You may use the --sort=<key> option + multiple times, in which case the last key becomes the primary + key. The keys supported are the same as those in `git + for-each-ref`. Sort order defaults to sorting based on the + full refname (including `refs/...` prefix). This lists + detached HEAD (if present) first, then local branches and + finally remote-tracking branches. + + +--points-at <object>:: + Only list branches of the given object. + +--format <format>:: + A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from a branch ref being shown + and the object it points at. The format is the same as + that of linkgit:git-for-each-ref[1]. + +CONFIGURATION +------------- +`pager.branch` is only respected when listing branches, i.e., when +`--list` is used or implied. The default is to use a pager. +See linkgit:git-config[1]. + +Examples +-------- + +Start development from a known tag:: ++ +------------ +$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/.../linux-2.6 my2.6 +$ cd my2.6 +$ git branch my2.6.14 v2.6.14 <1> +$ git checkout my2.6.14 +------------ ++ +<1> This step and the next one could be combined into a single step with +"checkout -b my2.6.14 v2.6.14". + +Delete an unneeded branch:: ++ +------------ +$ git clone git://git.kernel.org/.../git.git my.git +$ cd my.git +$ git branch -d -r origin/todo origin/html origin/man <1> +$ git branch -D test <2> +------------ ++ +<1> Delete the remote-tracking branches "todo", "html" and "man". The next +'fetch' or 'pull' will create them again unless you configure them not to. +See linkgit:git-fetch[1]. +<2> Delete the "test" branch even if the "master" branch (or whichever branch +is currently checked out) does not have all commits from the test branch. + + +Notes +----- + +If you are creating a branch that you want to checkout immediately, it is +easier to use the git checkout command with its `-b` option to create +a branch and check it out with a single command. + +The options `--contains`, `--no-contains`, `--merged` and `--no-merged` +serve four related but different purposes: + +- `--contains <commit>` is used to find all branches which will need + special attention if <commit> were to be rebased or amended, since those + branches contain the specified <commit>. + +- `--no-contains <commit>` is the inverse of that, i.e. branches that don't + contain the specified <commit>. + +- `--merged` is used to find all branches which can be safely deleted, + since those branches are fully contained by HEAD. + +- `--no-merged` is used to find branches which are candidates for merging + into HEAD, since those branches are not fully contained by HEAD. + +SEE ALSO +-------- +linkgit:git-check-ref-format[1], +linkgit:git-fetch[1], +linkgit:git-remote[1], +link:user-manual.html#what-is-a-branch[``Understanding history: What is +a branch?''] in the Git User's Manual. + +GIT +--- +Part of the linkgit:git[1] suite |