Script for Easy Git Branch Management

This bash script aims to simplify your workflow within Git by offering a convenient way to manage branches.

Setup

1. Download the script in https://github.com/ivanyu199012/14-gsw/blob/master/gsw.sh
2. Run source gsw.sh in the terminal of your linux machine,

Feature

1. gsw --> Change git branch using no.

• Type gsw and it lists all available local branches and ask you to input the branch no., which you would like to switch to. Note that branch marked with * is your current branch.

$ gsw
1.   master
2. * test-branch-1
3.   test-branch-2
4.   test-branch-3
5.   test-branch-4
6.   test-branch-5
Enter branch no.:

• Enter the branch no., e.g. 4 for test-branch-3, and press enter. Then it switches to the branch test-branch-3;

$ gsw
1.   master
2. * test-branch-1
3.   test-branch-2
4.   test-branch-3
5.   test-branch-4
6.   test-branch-5
Enter branch no.: 4
Switched to branch 'test-branch-3'

$ git branch
  master
  test-branch-1
  test-branch-2
* test-branch-3
  test-branch-4
  test-branch-5

2. gsw -m --> Fast switch back to master branch

• use gsw -m to switch back to master branch directly

$ gsw -m
Switched to branch 'master'

$ git branch
* master
  test-branch-1
  test-branch-2
  test-branch-3
  test-branch-4
  test-branch-5

3. gsw -c <branch name> --> create new branch

• use gsw -c <branch name> to create new branch

$ gsw -c test-new-branch
Switched to a new branch 'test-new-branch'

$ git branch
  master
  test-branch-1
  test-branch-2
  test-branch-3
  test-branch-4
  test-branch-5
* test-new-branch

Summary

Command	Description
gsw + no.	Change git branch using no.
gsw -m	Switch to master branch
gsw -c <branch name>	Create a branch with name <branch name>

Reason I wrote this blog

How do you switch git branch? Most of you may follow below steps:

1. Use git branch to list all the branches
2. Find your desired branch and copy the name
3. Type git checkout or git checkout and then paste the name

Before developed this script, I did above steps a lot of times every day and found it very troublesome. I asked myself:

1. Why do I type 2 commands and use my mouse to copy the branch name for just switching branch?
2. Can I switch branch using number instead of name?

As a result, the script was made and hope that it can help you to streamline git branch management.🙂