Also, improve the descriptions of these two branch operations and,
for completeness, describe the outcomes of forced operations.
Describing the arguments together with their respective operations,
instead
of describing them separately in a rather unfortunate attempt to
squeeze more
meaning out of fewer words, flows much better and makes the
git-branch(1)
man page significantly more usable.
The subsequent improvements shall continue this approach by either
dissolving
as many sentences from the "Description" section into the "Options"
section,
or by having those sentences converted into some kind of more readable
and
better flowing prose, as already discussed and outlined. [1][2]
[1] https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqqttmmlahf.fsf@gitster.g/T/#u
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/git/xmqq8r4zln08.fsf@gitster.g/T/#u
Signed-off-by: Dragan Simic <dsimic@xxxxxxxxxxx>
---
Notes:
This patch was originally named "branch: clarify <oldbranch> and
<newbranch>
terms further", submitted and discussed in another thread, [3] but
the nature
of the patch has changed, causing the patch subject to be adjusted
to match.
Consequently, this is effectively version 2 of the patch, which
includes
detailed feedback from Kyle and Junio, who suggested moving/adding
the
argument descriptions to their respective commands. This resulted
in more
significant changes to the contents of the git-branch(1) man page,
in an
attempt to make it more readable.
[3]
https://lore.kernel.org/git/e2eb777bca8ffeec42bdd684837d28dd52cfc9c3.1707136999.git.dsimic@xxxxxxxxxxx/T/#u
Documentation/git-branch.txt | 44
+++++++++++++++---------------------
1 file changed, 18 insertions(+), 26 deletions(-)
diff --git a/Documentation/git-branch.txt
b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
index 0b0844293235..370ea43c0380 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-branch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
@@ -72,16 +72,6 @@ the remote-tracking branch. This behavior may be
changed via the global
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 will be copied
to a
-new name, along with its config and reflog.
-
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.
@@ -128,18 +118,28 @@ Note that 'git branch -f <branchname>
[<start-point>]', even with '-f',
refuses to change an existing branch `<branchname>` that is checked
out
in another worktree linked to the same repository.
--m::
---move::
- Move/rename a branch, together with its config and reflog.
+-m [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
+--move [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
+ Rename an existing branch <oldbranch>, which if not specified
defaults
+ to the current branch, to <newbranch>. The configuration variables
+ for the <oldbranch> branch and its reflog are also renamed
appropriately
+ to be used with <newbranch>. Renaming fails if branch <newbranch>
+ already exists, but you can use `-M` or `--move --force` to
overwrite
+ the files in existing branch <newbranch> while renaming.
--M::
+-M [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
Shortcut for `--move --force`.
--c::
---copy::
- Copy a branch, together with its config and reflog.
+-c [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
+--copy [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
+ Copy an existing branch <oldbranch>, which if not specified defaults
+ to the current branch, to <newbranch>. The configuration variables
+ for the <oldbranch> branch and its reflog are also copied
appropriately
+ to be used with <newbranch>. Copying fails if branch <newbranch>
+ already exists, but you can use `-C` or `--copy --force` to
overwrite
+ the files in existing branch <newbranch> while copying.
--C::
+-C [<oldbranch>] <newbranch>::
Shortcut for `--copy --force`.
--color[=<when>]::
@@ -311,14 +311,6 @@ superproject's "origin/main", but tracks the
submodule's "origin/main".
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. If this option is omitted,
- the name of the current branch will be used instead.
-
-<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
