git-branch-create

name	git-branch-create
description	Create a new git branch using a conventional naming scheme. Use when the user asks to create a branch, start a new branch, /git-branch-create, or begin work on a feature/fix. Also trigger on "start work on X", "spin up a branch for Y", "new ticket", "let's start Z", or whenever the user signals they're beginning a discrete new piece of work. Creates and checks out the branch immediately without asking for confirmation.
tags	["git"]
updated_at	"2026-06-04T00:00:00.000Z"

Create Branch

Make + checkout new branch. No confirm.

Flow

1. Parallel: git status + git branch --show-current.
2. Dirty tree -> stop. Tell user to stash or commit first. Why -> checkout -b carries staged + unstaged changes into the new branch silently, mixing them with future work.
3. Pick base:
   • Default main. Fall back master.
   • On feature branch + user wants to branch off it -> use current. Skip step 4's fetch; go to step 5 "off current" variant.
4. Exists? git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/<name> -> 0 = stop, surface conflict, no overwrite. Why -> checkout -b errors anyway, but check early so message is clean + no half-state.
5. Create:
   • Off <base> (default): git fetch origin <base> + git checkout -b <name> origin/<base>.
   • Off current: git checkout -b <name> (no fetch, no remote ref — current HEAD is the base).
6. Print branch + base.

Naming

<type>/<short-kebab-desc> or <type>/<scope>-<short-kebab-desc>.

Type

Same set + picks as git-commit. See that skill's Type pick + Tiebreakers for disambiguation. Quick list: feat|fix|perf|refactor|docs|test|build|ci|chore.

Desc

• kebab-case. Not camel / snake.
• Imperative present: add, fix, remove. Not added, fixes.
• < ~50 chars.
• No ticket IDs unless asked. Why -> history readable + tool-agnostic; trackers come+go, branches stay. Asked -> suffix: feat/add-auth-middleware-PROJ-123.

Examples

• feat/add-oauth-login
• fix/api-timeout-on-retry
• refactor/extract-user-service
• docs/update-readme
• ci/cache-pnpm-store

Rules

• Derive type + desc from intent + diff if avail.
• User gives name -> verbatim. No rewrite.
• Never delete/reset existing branches here.
• Never push new branch unless asked.
• Branch exists -> stop. Surface conflict. No overwrite.