Open Source Guide
Tutorials

Create a Branch

Learn how to create a new branch for your changes

Create a Branch

Branches allow you to work on new features or fixes without affecting the main codebase.

Why Create a Branch?

  • Isolation: Keep your changes separate from the main code
  • Organization: Work on multiple features simultaneously
  • Safety: Easy to discard if something goes wrong
  • Best Practice: Required for pull requests

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check Current Branch

git branch

# Shows current branch (usually 'main' or 'master')

Step 2: Create and Switch to New Branch

# Create and switch in one command
git checkout -b feature/my-awesome-feature

# Or use the newer syntax
git switch -c feature/my-awesome-feature

Step 3: Verify You're on the New Branch

git branch

# The current branch will have an asterisk (*)
# * feature/my-awesome-feature
#   main

Branch Naming Conventions

Good Branch Names

feature/add-dark-mode
fix/broken-link-footer
docs/update-readme
refactor/improve-performance

Branch Name Patterns

  • feature/ - New features
  • fix/ - Bug fixes
  • docs/ - Documentation changes
  • refactor/ - Code refactoring
  • test/ - Adding tests

Use descriptive names that explain what you're working on. This helps maintainers understand your changes.


Common Commands

# List all branches
git branch

# List all branches (including remote)
git branch -a

# Switch to existing branch
git checkout branch-name
# or
git switch branch-name

# Delete a branch (after merging)
git branch -d branch-name

# Force delete a branch
git branch -D branch-name

Next Steps

You've created a new branch! Now you can make changes safely. 🌿

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