Git Checkout Branch

Git checkout / switch branch

branch = name from this message (trimmed). If missing, ask once and stop.

Steps

1. git status --short. If the working tree is dirty and git switch would fail, report and stop — commit/stash/discard only if the user says so in this message.
2. git fetch --all when network is allowed (skip and say so if forbidden).
3. Resolve and switch:
   • Local branch exists → git switch branch
   • Only on remote → git switch branch if Git tracks it unambiguously; else git switch -c branch --track origin/branch
   • Neither local nor origin/branch → authorization gate (next section)
4. Done when: HEAD is on branch, or you stopped at a hard stop / unanswered create gate.

Authorization gate (missing branch)

1. State that neither local nor origin/<branch> was found.
2. Ask whether to create local branch from current HEAD (or from a base the user named).
3. Create only on a clear yes (yes / proceed / create it). Otherwise stop.
4. On confirm: git switch -c branch (or git switch -c branch <base> if they named a base).

Guardrails

• No branch delete, force checkout of unrelated SHAs, or inventing names.