# Start

> Create a new branch. Uses gh-stack or Graphite (gt) if available, falls back to git.

- Skill: `luan/start` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add luan/start`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/luan/start/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: luan (https://skillmd.com/u/luan)
- Updated: 2026-09-10
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/luan/start

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# Start

Create branch.

## Steps

1. Parse args: first = branch name
2. Normalize: prefix with !`echo "${GIT_USERNAME:-$(whoami)}"/` if not already present
3. Create branch (detect stack tool for current branch):
   - `gh stack view --json 2>/dev/null` succeeds → `Skill(gh-stack, "add <branch-name>")`
   - gt plugin loaded → `Skill(gt:gt, "create <branch-name>")`
   - Otherwise → `git checkout -b <branch-name>`
4. Report branch. If `--auto` was NOT passed, suggest `/spec` or `/develop`. If `--auto` was passed, output nothing — no report, no suggestions. The caller is an orchestrator that will handle next steps; any output text risks the model ending its turn prematurely.

## Error Handling

- **Branch exists** → check `git branch -a`, suggest alternate name
- **Wrong parent** → warn user, suggest checking out intended parent first