Allow For Setting Default Upstream Of Main Branch When Gh Repo Clone

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Allow for Setting Default Upstream of Main Branch when gh repo clone

Describe the Feature or Problem You'd Like to Solve

When working with GitHub repositories, especially when cloning forks, the default behavior of the gh repo clone command can be limiting. Currently, if you run gh repo clone my_repo, where my_repo is a fork under your GitHub account of another repository, you get two remotes set up: an upstream and an origin. The default branch, typically main, has its upstream set to origin. However, for many users, this default behavior doesn't align with their typical workflow.

For instance, if you're working on a project and want to clone a forked repository, you might want the upstream of the main branch to be upstream (or whatever name is passed with -u). This is because your typical workflow involves:

  1. Checking out the main branch
  2. Pulling changes from the upstream
  3. Creating a new feature branch
  4. Pushing to your fork

In this scenario, after a gh repo clone my_repo, you would need to run git branch --set-upstream-to upstream/main to set the upstream of the main branch correctly. This can be a repetitive task, especially if you're working on multiple projects.

Proposed Solution

To address this issue, an additional optional boolean flag can be added to the gh repo clone command. This flag, when set, will automatically set the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote if the cloned repository is a fork in the user's namespace. This way, users can clone repositories with the correct upstream set, eliminating the need for additional commands.

Benefits of the Proposed Solution

The proposed solution offers several benefits:

  • Simplified workflow: By setting the upstream of the main branch automatically, users can streamline their workflow and reduce the number of commands they need to run.
  • Improved productivity: With the correct upstream set, users can focus on their work without worrying about setting up their repository correctly.
  • Enhanced user experience: The addition of this flag will make the gh repo clone command more user-friendly and intuitive.

Implementation Details

To implement this feature, the following changes can be made to the gh repo clone command:

  • Add an optional boolean flag, e.g., --set-upstream, to the gh repo clone command.
  • Check if the cloned repository is a fork in the user's namespace.
  • If the flag is set and the repository is a fork, set the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote.

Example Usage

Here's an example of how the gh repo clone command with the new flag can be used:

gh repo clone --set-upstream my_repo

This will clone the my_repo repository and set the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote, if the repository is a fork in the user's namespace.

Conclusion

The proposed solution to add an optional boolean flag to the gh repo clone command will greatly improve the user experience and simplify the workflow for users who clone forks. By setting the upstream of the main branch automatically, users can focus on their work without worrying about setting up their repository correctly. The benefits of this feature include simplified workflow, improved productivity, and enhanced user experience.

Future Work

In the future, this feature can be extended to support other branches and remotes. Additionally, the flag can be made more flexible to accommodate different use cases.

Related Issues

API Documentation

The gh repo clone command with the new flag will be documented in the API documentation, including the usage and examples.

Testing

The feature will be tested thoroughly to ensure that it works correctly and doesn't introduce any regressions.

Release Notes

The release notes will include information about the new feature, including the benefits and usage.

FAQ

  • Q: What is the purpose of the --set-upstream flag? A: The --set-upstream flag sets the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote if the cloned repository is a fork in the user's namespace.
  • Q: How do I use the --set-upstream flag? A: You can use the --set-upstream flag with the gh repo clone command, like this: gh repo clone --set-upstream my_repo.
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about gh repo clone with --set-upstream Flag

Q&A

Q: What is the purpose of the --set-upstream flag?

A: The --set-upstream flag sets the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote if the cloned repository is a fork in the user's namespace. This simplifies the workflow for users who clone forks and eliminates the need for additional commands.

Q: How do I use the --set-upstream flag?

A: You can use the --set-upstream flag with the gh repo clone command, like this: gh repo clone --set-upstream my_repo.

Q: What is the benefit of using the --set-upstream flag?

A: The benefit of using the --set-upstream flag is that it simplifies the workflow for users who clone forks. It eliminates the need for additional commands, such as git branch --set-upstream-to upstream/main, and makes it easier to work with repositories.

Q: Is the --set-upstream flag optional?

A: Yes, the --set-upstream flag is optional. If you don't use it, the gh repo clone command will behave as it does today, setting the upstream of the main branch to the origin remote.

Q: Can I use the --set-upstream flag with other branches?

A: Currently, the --set-upstream flag only sets the upstream of the main branch. However, we plan to extend this feature to support other branches in the future.

Q: How do I know if the repository is a fork in my namespace?

A: The gh repo clone command will automatically detect if the repository is a fork in your namespace. If it is, the --set-upstream flag will set the upstream of the main branch to the upstream remote.

Q: Can I use the --set-upstream flag with other GitHub commands?

A: The --set-upstream flag is specific to the gh repo clone command. However, we plan to extend this feature to other GitHub commands in the future.

Q: How do I report issues or provide feedback about the --set-upstream flag?

A: You can report issues or provide feedback about the --set-upstream flag by opening a new issue on the GitHub repository for the gh command-line tool.

Q: Is the --set-upstream flag available in all GitHub environments?

A: The --set-upstream flag is available in all GitHub environments, including GitHub.com, GitHub Enterprise, and GitHub AE.

Q: Can I use the --set-upstream flag with GitHub Desktop?

A: The --set-upstream flag is not available in GitHub Desktop. However, we plan to extend this feature to GitHub Desktop in the future.

Additional Resources

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