Re: [PATCH 2/5] doc: git-checkout: clarify `git checkout <branch>`

From: Junio C Hamano <gitster@pobox.com>
Date: Aug 28, 2025, 15:45 UTC
Message-ID: <xmqq349bxxeu.fsf@gitster.g>
In-Reply-To: <276630b8-ad98-4ada-aa85-9f136d653d7b@app.fastmail.com>

"Julia Evans" <julia@jvns.ca> writes:

Show 8 quoted lines

>> Do we expect readers to truly understand what is to "switch to branch"
>> without explanation?  IOW, I am undecided if the lost "To prepare for
>> working on" is a good thing.
>
> I'm not sure what you mean here: "switch to <branch>" is as far as I can tell
> the most widely used term to refer to this operation, in other Git
> resources, in Git's own man pages, and in the error output of the 
> `git checkout` command itself:

My assumption was that you are making this a manual to teach what "switch to branch" means to folks who do not know, hence my question.

> ("Please commit your changes or stash them before you switch branches.")
> Which readers do you think would be confused by it?

Exactly those who are given that message and want to understand what it means.