From: Mark Lodato Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:40:03 GMT Subject: Re: master^ is not a local branch -- huh?!? Message-ID: In-Reply-To: On Fri, Jan 29, 2010 at 8:22 PM, Nicolas Pitre wrote: > On Fri, 29 Jan 2010, Mark Lodato wrote: > >> Still, I find it slightly confusing and unfriendly.  How about the following? > > It is slightly inaccurate. Is the following the only inaccuracy? Do you have any other feedback? >> Checking out commit 'master^0'. >> >> Since this is not a local branch head, any commits you make will be lost >> when you check out another branch or commit.  (In git terminology, HEAD >> is detached.)  If you just wish to look at files without committing, >> this is fine.  If you wish to make commits and retain them, you may >> create a new branch by running: >> >>   git checkout -b > > This gives the impression that any commit you make on a detached HEAD > are going to be lost, unless you create a new branch first. What about "...you may want to create..."? This does not imply that creating a new branch now is the *only* way, just the most likely. If a user knows another way, that user probably does not need this warning in the first place.